8 companies helping employees access abortion care

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In the wake of a leaked draft of a Supreme Court opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade and rip away access to abortion care for millions of women nationwide, employers and employees alike are contemplating the likelihood of a future once deemed unimaginable.

The document, which was obtained and released by Politico on Monday night, was written by Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr., and stated that “We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled.”

The document came on the heels of a year of state regulations that have already limited access to abortion services for some, and that have been viewed as a threat to abortion access for all. In September, the Texas Heartbeat Act went into effect, banning abortions after just six weeks of pregnancy and encouraging citizens to sue those in violation of the law. In 2022 alone, legislation that would ban abortion has been introduced in 31 states.

In turn, employers nationwide have been taking measures to extend support to workers and help employees access abortion services, even across state lines, if necessary. Here are eight who’ve already expressed a commitment to employees’ rights.

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Amazon

The tech giant announced to staff just yesterday, as reported by Reuters, that it would cover $4,000 a year to cover employee travel costs for non-life-threatening medical care, which is not specific to but includes abortion care.
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Citigroup

Earlier this year, Citigroup disclosed in a proxy statement to shareholders that it would offer “travel benefits to facilitate access to adequate resources” in response to “changes in reproductive healthcare laws in certain states.”
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Bospar

In September, the San Francisco-based PR firm announced that it would cover up to $10,000 in moving costs for any Texas-based employee who wished to relocate as a result of the state’s law.

“When we heard staff members saying they were looking to leave the state, we wanted to make the process easier for them by removing this biggest hurdle for relocation: money,” co-founder Curtis Sparrer told EBN last fall. “Should other states adopt similarly restrictive abortion bans, we will expand our program.”

Read more:  PR firm to pay moving costs for Texas employees that want to relocate over abortion law
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Alloy

The software platform will cover medical, travel and legal expenses for employees and partners who live states with restrictive legislation and need help accessing care.

"Looking at abortion care, reproductive rights and healthcare broadly, the government has really fallen short,” Laura Spiekerman, co-founder and chief revenue officer for Alloy, told EBN in January. “Private companies have to step in to make what little we are given work. For us, that meant filling in these gaps where we've seen the government make some really bad decisions. And if we want to put our people first, we felt like this was a way to do it.”

Read more: Abortion care is healthcare: This fintech company offers new benefit to increase access to reproductive services
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Yelp

Yelp announced in April that it would cover travel costs for employees who needed to cross state lines to access abortion services. The company has about 200 employees in Texas, and in September, when the state’s restrictive legislation went into effect, Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman told the New York Times that the law “not only infringes on women’s rights to reproductive health care, but it puts their health and safety at greater risk.”
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Bumble

The Austin-based networking and dating app announced a relief fund  to help provide access to reproductive care.

Read more: Law firm adds PTO for miscarriages following employee's personal struggle



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Apple

In September, the New York Times reported that Apple CEO Tim Cook announced to staff that the tech giant would cover travel expenses for Texas employees who need to travel outside state lines to access care.
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Match

Match CEO Shar Dubey also announced the creation of a fund to support employees and dependents impacted by restrictive abortion legislation. Match is based in Dallas.
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