Firm will pay for Texas employees to relocate following abortion law

A California technology public relations firm is offering to pay for its six Texas staff members to relocate in response to the state’s restrictive new abortion law.

Calling it an “evacuation program,” San Francisco-based Bospar said it will provide $10,000 to any staff member needing to relocate “to ensure they have control of their reproductive health.” Its Austin workforce of five women and one man makes up about one-tenth of the firm’s employees. Overall, women account for 78% of its employee base.

The company, one of the few to publicly speak out against the law, said it also will extend the plan to staff members outside Texas if other states implement similar abortion laws.

“As a company that wants to maintain and attract the best talent, Bospar believes this relocation program — or evacuation program — makes good business sense,” said Bospar principal and co-founder Curtis Sparrer. “We predict other companies will take similar action to retain the best talent until Texas reverses this self-inflicted brain drain.”

Texas riled the nation last week when it enacted the so-called Heartbeat Act, the most aggressive antiabortion legislation in the nation. The law essentially bans abortions after six weeks, the time when at least 85% of abortions in the state happen.

In an appearance on CNBC, Gov. Greg Abbott defended the controversial law and said it will help attract even more business growth to Texas. His critics point to the abortion law, followed by this week’s signing of election voting legislation, as examples of social stances that give employers pause.