Oh for sure, we have those laws too and I'm definitely aware of them. I guess my question has existing employees baked in mind. An existing employee who wants to move to a higher COL environment seemingly has to go through a process that existing employees who are expecting a child don't, even though having a child dramatically changes the day to day expenses of living for a household. Or at least, that is a situation that isn't discussed in the handbook.
I could have clarified that inquiry a bit better, me thinks.
You seen to be conflating a household's actual expenses with a city's relative cost of living. Gitlab (along with my own employer and most remote-friendly companies I know of) adjust's pay based on the latter, not the former.
If I wanted to move to San Francisco I'd have to get my manager's approval, and I'd get a raise.
If I decided to have more kids, buy a bigger house, eat out more, start collecting vintage cars, etc I don't need my manager'd approval, but I won't get a raise.
You seen to be conflating a household's actual expenses with a city's relative cost of living.
I mean, I'd argue there are several things involved with having a family that have costs relative to where you live (access to schools/primary education for example), so I don't really see it as disparately.
I could have clarified that inquiry a bit better, me thinks.