Cotopaxi Urges Female Employees To Make Their Voices Heard

The outdoor brand and retailer’s CEO wants female employees to take the day off and get involved on International Women’s Day.

Writer: Carly Terwilliger

Cotopaxi CEO Davis Smith is encouraging his female employees to take today off for International Women’s Day and get involved in “A Day Without a Woman” strikes and marches protesting discrimination, lower wages, violence against women, legislation about women’s health and other equality issues.

Cotopaxi’s female retail employees who take the day off to stand in solidarity will still be paid for their shifts.

“Tomorrow is International Women’s Day and we want to voice our support of the ‘Day Without A Woman’ strike,” Smith told employees in an internal email. “I’d like to encourage all women on our team to take the day off tomorrow. For those women working in the retail store tomorrow, we will pay you for your shift, as if you had worked.”

Davis urged employees to make their voices heard in any way possible.

“Find a way to have your voices heard, and play a role in bringing awareness around the issue of women’s equality,” he wrote. “There are a number of marches, walks, gatherings, and celebrations. Please join them.”

Photos courtesy Cotopaxi