Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff is offering relocation packages to Indiana-based employees who no longer feel comfortable living in the state since the Religious Freedom Restoration Act was signed into law.
Mr. Benioff told CNN on Wednesday that he has granted transfers and hefty relocation packages to several employees who asked for them.
“I just got an email on the way to studio from another employee who said, ’Look, I don’t feel comfortable living in this state anymore. You have to move me out,’ and I gave him a $50,000 relocation package and said, ’Great, you’re clear to go,’ ” the CEO said.
Mr. Benioff had already pledged to reduce his company’s investments in Indiana, calling the new law “brutal,” “unfair” and “unjust,” CNN reported. Still, he acknowledged that the San Francisco-based global cloud-computing company will not be able to completely pull out of Indiana, given the size of its operations there, CNN reported.
“This is a really important point that, you know, CEOs have a lot of power and control on investment in states, and we want to invest in states where there is equality,” Mr. Benioff said. “One thing that you’re seeing is that there is a third [political] party emerging in this country, which is the party of CEOs.”
In an effort to quell the mounting outrage against Indiana’s RFRA, Republican state legislators announced Thursday morning, flanked by business, civic and sports leaders, that Gov. Mike Pence’s promised “fix” includes specific protections for sexual orientation and gender identity.
“It’s done. Thank you to everyone who made this happen,” Mr. Benioff celebrated on Twitter shortly before noon on Thursday.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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