Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court on Tuesday John Roberts confirmed that a draft document did exist, but, as he indicated, the court had not yet made a final decision.
Although alone The leak was unexpectedIt shows the ramifications of coordinated actions taken long ago in many Republican-controlled states to severely restrict access to abortion.
Employers include abortion in employee programs
Several large companies operating in states such as Texas and Oklahoma have announced their own initiatives to maintain access to abortion. According to a study by the Guttmacher Institute, 26 states are “sure or likely” that abortion will be banned if Roe’s ruling is overturned.
Employers such as Citi, Apple, Yelp, and Amazon are including abortion in their extended package of existing benefits programs so that employees can be compensated for travel expenses to health care facilities that are not available near where they live.
Other companies, such as Uber and Lyft, have pledged to support transportation for people looking for places where they can abort, as well as to legally defend drivers from potential lawsuits.
Below is a list of the largest companies and their responses to restricting reproductive rights.
apple
Apple CEO Tim Cook addressed concerns about a Texas law banning abortion after a fetal heartbeat was detected at a meeting with city officials in September. The company quickly published a memo describing the law as “too restrictive” and announced it The occupational health plan covers those who “travel out of state to receive medical care when it is not available in their home state.”
City Group
Citi, which employs approximately 8,500 people operating in Texas, told investors in a March report that “in response to changes in reproductive health regulations in some US states, it is providing travel benefits from 2022 to facilitate access to appropriate services.” .
Amazon
On Monday, hours before a draft Supreme Court ruling was leaked, Amazon told employees it It will cover up to 4000 gap. Dollars annually for travel costs for non-life-threatening medical procedures, including elective abortion. The policy covers corporate and warehouse employees as well as their dependents who are enrolled in Premera or Aetna health plans.
sales force
Shortly after the Texas law was passed in September, Salesforce told employees through its internal communications system: “If you have concerns about reproductive health care in your state, Salesforce will help move you and your immediate family elsewhere.”
howling
“The overturning of the Roe v. Wade ruling will jeopardize the human rights of millions of women who face the loss of their freedom to make decisions about their bodies,” Yelp said in a statement on Tuesday. “Turning back the clock on the progress women have made over the past 50 years will have a seismic impact on our society and economy,” she added.
This isn’t a new Yelp policy, it’s just a new feature
– Explaining the decision to cover the travel expenses of workers seeking an abortion in a country other than where they live, Yelp Director of Diversity, Miriam Warren. “Our company and CEO have long invested in promoting gender equality, which is disrupted when women are not in control of their reproductive health,” she added.
Lift
In response to a Texas law banning abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, Lyft has announced that it will pay the legal costs of drivers sued for carrying passengers for abortion. The company also pledged a $1 million donation. to Planned Parenthood, “to make sure that transportation is never an obstacle to accessing health care.”
“Texas TX SB8 law threatens to punish drivers for driving people where they need to go – especially women exercising their right to choose,” said Logan Green, co-founder and CEO of Lyft, in a tweet in September.
Uber
Soon after Lyft, Uber announced that it would also cover drivers’ legal costs.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi tweeted, referring to the rule that allows citizens to sue people “helping” for an illegal abortion and provides a “reward” of US$. 10,000 for winning a lawsuit.
match
The CEO of Match Shar Dobby Group was created Fund for Texas workers seeking out-of-state health care after abortions were banned after fetal heartbeat was detected
“I’m not talking about this as the CEO of the company, but personally, as a mother and a woman who fights hard for women’s rights, including the fundamental right to decide about her own body,” Dobby said.
stutter
Bumble has created an aid fund for organizations that support reproductive rights for Texas. A $6.6 billion company founded by Whitney Wolf Heard in 2014, she tweeted that she was “founded by women and run by women” and will continue to fight reactionary laws like SB8.
Bumble and Match were among the first tech companies in Texas to speak out against the ban.
We are appalled by the rumors about Supreme Court decisions that were leaked yesterday evening. At Bumble, we believe strongly in a woman’s right to choose and exercise complete control over her own body. Security, privacy and freedom of family planning are key to equality for all… The health and safety of our team is our top priority, and this includes access to abortion care. We will continue to work with organizations working to ensure access to reproductive services for all, a Bumble spokesperson said Tuesday.
Del
In response to the Texas anti-abortion law, Michael Dell, CEO of Dell Technologies, sent an email to all employees in Texas on Wednesday, September 8, stating: “Our management team is carefully considering the implications of recent regulations for our company and for you, our members. our team.”
An internal letter did not name Texas SB Act 8, but said that it “remains unknown what the final form of such laws will be” and the company’s goal “is to provide more (health) care to workers, not less.”
A Dell spokesperson declined to comment on Monday’s draft Supreme Court opinion, adding that the company is “focusing on team members and giving them the support they need with benefits and assistance.”
fibrous
Levi’s employees, including part-time retailers, can claim travel expenses for an abortion in another state.
abundance
Lush Handmade Cosmetics announced in January that it was reviewing the company’s healthcare package to ensure all US workers had access to abortion services.
We are very concerned about the state of women’s rights in this country. Not just because Lush employs more than 80 territories. women, but because we know that access to safe reproductive care, including abortion, is essential to a healthy workforce and society. For seven months, we’ve been campaigning for universal abortion rights in Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Ohio, Florida and Alaska. The Supreme Court’s draft opinion underscores our worst concerns as we are currently looking at ways to support staff involved in providing them with comprehensive and equitable care. As the business community, we believe this fix is only temporary. We need legislation like the Women’s Health Protection Act, which is passed at the will of the majority of the nation and which assures that women’s rights will be recognized for what they are, which are human rights.
Brandi Holz, chief ethics officer of Lush Cosmetics North America, said in a statement she shared with Insider on Tuesday.
Translation: Dorota Salus
