Bumble Loses One-Third of Texas Workforce After Passage of Controversial Abortion Law
Bumble, the popular dating app, has experienced a significant decrease in its Texas workforce following the passage of the controversial “Heartbeat Act” abortion bill over a year ago. During a recent panel discussion at the South by Southwest (SXSW) conference in Austin, Interim General Counsel Elizabeth Monteleone revealed that approximately one-third of Bumble’s Texas employees have left the company.
Monteleone explained that Bumble is now a fully remote-first organization and supports employees who choose to relocate due to various reasons, including legislative changes such as the Texas Heartbeat Act. She further suggested that while most departures can be attributed to this particular legislation, others might be linked to multiple problematic laws in Texas.
Bumble made history as the first business to sign onto an amicus brief supporting a lawsuit challenging the Texas abortion law, Zurawski v. State of Texas, filed by the Center for Reproductive Rights. The lawsuit argues that the law endangers women’s lives by forcing them to continue unwanted pregnancies, potentially risking their health.
The panel primarily addressed the political implications and emotional consequences of such laws; however, Monteleone emphasized the economic ramifications for businesses. According to her, these types of laws lead to increased expenses for businesses seeking to recruit and maintain talent in Texas.
Since Bumble joined the cause, numerous other organizations, including competitors Match Group and SXSW, have also signed onto the amicus brief. Companies are concerned about the potential difficulties in attracting and keeping talent given the contentious legal landscape.
Monteleone highlighted the importance of considering location factors when accepting or maintaining employment, especially for young audiences who appear less inclined towards traditional dating apps compared to previous generations.
In response to these challenges, Bumble has expanded its healthcare benefits package to cover the entire range of reproductive rights, including abortion, IVF, surrogacy, egg freezing, and gender-affirming care. Similar initiatives have been adopted by other companies.
Given the current market conditions and competition, Bumble’s struggles with growth make these concerns even more pressing. In Q4 alone, the company reported a net loss of $32 million and generated $273.6 million in revenue. Additionally, the company underwent major leadership changes, including the departure of founder Whitney Wolfe Herd as CEO and the appointment of former Slack CEO Lidiane Jones as her successor.
