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Popular ticketing platform SeatGeek is facing a setback after a job posting offering up to $175,000 and perks like $25,000 in “gender-affirming care” benefits sparked outrage online and renewed criticism of the company’s prices.
The company is looking for an analytics engineer to join SeatGeek’s data team. Applicants must have a “strong opinion” about how data should drive decision-making.
Along with a salary range of $121,000 to $175,000, the mention highlights a range of benefits, including mental health plans, unlimited paid time off (PTO), four months of fully paid family leave, remote or in-office work options, a home office stipend, and a student loan matching program.
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The SeatGeek ticket app on a smartphone. (Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Getty Images)
The application also includes a section titled “Voluntary Demographic Questions,” which asks candidates to identify their gender as “male, female, non-binary, third gender, prefer not to say or prefer to describe themselves.”
Prospective employees can also indicate whether they consider themselves a ‘member of the LGBTQ+ community’.
Critics have raised concerns about the relevance of the clues, and some social media users called for a boycott of the platform.
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SeatGeek lists a number of gender options on its application, including “third gender.”
Several people questioned whether the $25,000 could be used for elective surgeries not related to gender reassignment, while others pointed out that the four months of paid family leave seemed unnecessary given the unlimited PTO.
“Private companies can offer incentives to employees. If it’s still legal and that’s the kind of employee they want to attract,” wrote X user @dank1j in a comment on a message shared by @LibsofTikTok. “Of course, those who are not transgenic should be able to substitute breast augmentation or other plastic surgery. I would get a PO if they didn’t opt for my tattoo.”
User @WomanDefiner commented that he would like to spend the money on male “self-care.”
“I need 25k to confirm my gender as a biological male,” wrote @WomanDefiner. “I’m going on a fishing trip. It’s called: we’re doing a little self-care.”
SeatGeek CEO Jack Groetzinger testifies at a 2023 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images/Getty Images)
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The generous salary and benefits also reignited a debate over the company’s high ticket prices and accusations of price gouging.
“I would conclude that their prices are high, if they can offer such expensive ‘benefits’,” wrote user @Mayhawwoman.
User @Gentrywgevers added: “This also proves that they are price gouging when they can afford to offer this.”
Others, like user @AmericanPamia, suggested lower prices for everyone so “they can save their own money for their own preferences.”
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SeatGeek said the demographic questions are voluntary and are used to “measure our own diversity and inclusion efforts” in accordance with Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) reporting requirements.
Gender and sexual identification questions are standard and voluntary on many U.S. job applications for EEO compliance.
