Salesforce, the San Francisco cloud-based software giant, has offered to help employees get out of Texas in the wake of state’s recently adopted anti-abortion legislation.
Senate Bill 8 prohibits abortions after a woman is six weeks pregnant, before many women know, and allows citizens to sue clinics that perform abortions —and anyone who “aids and abets” — and collect $10,000. The government itself will not enforce the law.
Salesforce made the offer to employees in a Slack message obtained and reported by CNBC. The company did not take a position on the law but said: “These are incredibly personal issues that directly impact many of us — especially women,” the message said.
“We recognize and respect that we all have deeply held and different perspectives,” it continued. “As a company, we stand with all of our women at Salesforce and everywhere.”
Salesforce representatives could not be reached for comment Saturday afternoon but Marc Benioff, the company’s founder and CEO, confirmed the offer by tweeting the CNBC story with a comment.
“Ohana if you want to move we’ll help you exit TX. Your choice,” tweeted Salesforce founder and CEO Marc Benioff , using the Hawaiian term for family.
The Texas law took effect on Sept. 1 after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to block it. On Thursday, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that Department of Justice would sue Texas over the law, which he called “unconstitutional.”
Salesforce’s move comes as many tech workers are evaluating where to live and work as many companies offer workers the opportunity to work remotely for extended periods. Texas is among many states that have courted tech employees and tech companies.
Salesforce has delved into political issues in the past. In 2015, Benioff protested an Indiana state religious freedom law that the gay and lesbian community said targeted them. The CEO threatened to shrink Salesforce’s presence and stop holding meetings in the state. Benioff attacked the law in a series of tweets and rallied business opposition to the law, signed by then-Gov. Mike Pence. The law was revised, and protections for the gay and lesbian community also became law.
Benioff and Salesforce have also waded into San Francisco politics. They contributed $7.9 million plus billboard space and a phone bank to help pass Proposition C in 2018, a measure that taxed large corporations to raise $250 million to $300 million a year in increased homeless funding.
Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan