Woke Companies Roe v. Wade

• Statement made on May 3, 2022. The bank will fund full reproductive health care access for employees and communities.
• Reimbursement includes airfare, gasoline costs, hotel fees and meal expenses, as well as up to five days of childcare expenses for an employee’s young child who needs to be babysat while out of state getting an abortion.
• Also starting Critical Reproductive Access Fund (CRAF) to help fundraise for the cause.

• The telecommunications spokesperson said in a statement: “The health of our employees and their families is important to our company, and we provide benefits that cover the cost of travel for medical procedures that are not available within 100 miles of their home.”
• https://www.businessinsider.com/businesses-react-supreme-court-overturn-of-roe-v-wade-2022-6

• Bank of America said: “We have expanded the list of medical treatments that are eligible for travel expense reimbursement. This list will now includes cancer treatment, organ transplants at centers of excellence, reproductive health care including abortion, and hospital admissions for mental health conditions.”

• Launch funds to cover abortion costs in Texas.
• “Bumble is women-founded and women-led, and from day one we’ve stood up for the most vulnerable. We’ll keep fighting against regressive laws like #SB8.”

• Citigroup’s health care plan covers travel costs.
• Yelp, Citi, Apple and more are expanding benefits to cover abortions

• CEO Hamdi Ulukaya tweeted, “Businesses have an obligation to prioritize their employees’ health, safety & well-being. That’s why @Chobani amended its health plans to support our employees’ ability to access specialized healthcare not available locally – including women’s reproductive health services.”
• Chobani health plan covers costs related to transportation, lodging and childcare when workers or their dependents must travel for healthcare.
• President Kevin Burris wrote in a memo, “ for Chobani, this is not a political stance or posturing – it’s a reaffirmation of our core belief that we will strive to do what’s best for the safety, health and well-being of our employees and their families.”

• The media company confirmed with Variety that it offers travel benefits that cover medical services and procedures that aren’t available in the employee’s area for up to $4,000 per trip and three trips a year. CNN confirmed that abortion care is covered.

• “Ensuring access to safe, legal, high-quality health care is one of our most important priorities,” the pharmacy giant said in a statement to Insider. “We will continue to provide colleagues, clients, and consumers with the flexibility to choose medical and pharmacy benefits to best suit their needs, including making out-of-state care accessible for our covered employees residing in states that have instituted laws that limit access in their state.”

• Dick’s CEO Lauren Hobart posted on LinkedIn, saying she’s protecting her employees’ health and well-being. “In response to today’s ruling, we are announcing that if a state one of our teammates lives in restricts access to abortion, DICK’S Sporting Goods will provide up to $4,000 in travel expense reimbursement to travel to the nearest location where that care is legally available. This benefit will be provided to any teammate, spouse or dependent enrolled in our medical plan, along with one support person,” the retail CEO said.

• Speaking in background, a Disney spokesperson said the company has “communicated directly” with its employees to “recognize the impact of the ruling.” The company’s travel benefit will cover pregnancy-related decisions, and the company re-emphasized its commitment to providing affordable healthcare for all employees, regardless of their locations.
• Disney said it would cover travel expenses as well: “We recognize the impact that today’s Supreme Court ruling could have on many Americans,” wrote Paul Richardson, the company’s head of human resources, and Pascale Thomas, a vice president.

• DoorDash will cover certain travel expenses for employees and their dependents enrolled in its health plan.

• Sell over the counter and prescription medicine including birth control but not abortion bills.
• Statement made on LinkedIn a few days ago.

“The news around abortion rights has created so much uncertainty & fear. We believe it’s important to give our employees certainty over their healthcare and this important right.

 

That’s why we’re implementing $6,000 in travel reimbursement and two weeks of leave for any employee and their partner who need to travel to a state that offers reproductive healthcare access.

 

Everyone, regardless of where they live, must be free to make reproductive decisions for themselves and no one should have these decisions dictated to them.”

• CEO Andre Dudum tweeted,  “I can’t pretend to know how difficult this issue is for so many people, but I do know how personal a decision it is to become a parent. Everyone, regardless of where they live, must be free to make that decision for themselves & no one should have it dictated to them.”

• “As a company, we believe that it should be up to every single one of our employees to decide whether and when to start a family, whether that’s choosing who they love and marry, taking paid time off if they are having a child, and having access to healthcare,” HP CEO Enrique Lores tweeted on Friday.
• The information technology and hardware company said in a May statement that it would continue to support employees needed out-of-state reproductive care and would cover related travel expenses.

• The careers platform said in a statement that: “Employees who are on Indeed insurance will be reimbursed for travel expenses for covered medical procedures that are unavailable where they live.”
• “At Indeed, we believe that work needs women, and women need access to safe and affordable health care,” the statement reads. “Anything that limits the freedom of women to make their own decisions about their health hurts them and society. Limiting access to safe and affordable health care will hit hardest in marginalized communities, especially people of color and those in lower income brackets.

• “On May 6, WPP CEO Mark Read sent a memo to employees saying the agency holding company would be “updating its benefits plan to provide funding for travel that allows consistent access to healthcare and resources, including abortion care.”
• “May 9, Adage reported that two other holding companies, Interpublic Group and Publicis Groupe, will also pay for travel costs related to abortion care for U.S. employees.”

• A spokesperson for the pharmaceutical and consumer-goods giant told Insider in a statement that the company offers reimbursement for US employees who need to travel for medical services not available within 100 miles of their home, which includes reproductive healthcare.
• “As the world’s most broadly-based healthcare company, we strive to improve access and affordability, create healthier communities, and put health within reach for the people we serve,” the spokesperson said. “We also believe healthcare decisions are best determined by individuals in consultation with their healthcare provider.”

• In response to the Roe ruling, the financial institution assured its workforce that it would pay for employees to travel to receive abortions, according to CNBC.

• A Kroger spokesperson told Insider that employees who use the company’s health plan have access to “a comprehensive benefits package that includes quality, affordable health care and travel benefits up to $4,000 to facilitate access to quality care for several categories of medical treatments and a full range of reproductive health care services, including abortion and fertility treatments.”

• In an Instagram post, Live Nation pledged to cover the travel expenses for employees who need access to women’s healthcare services, and bail expenses for employees arrested while protesting peacefully.

• The rideshare company promised legal support for drivers at risk of lawsuits for driving passengers to abortion appointments.
• “We believe access to healthcare is essential and transportation should never be a barrier to that access,” a Lyft spokesperson told ABC News. “This decision will hurt millions of women by taking away access to safe, and private reproductive healthcare services.”
• CEO Logan Green tweeted an image with benefits.

• Vowed to protect Texas-based drivers.

• Active fund for employees affected by SB8
• CEO Shar Dubey stated the following in a memo. Tweet of Memo.

• Meta said in a statement that it plans to reimburse travel expenses for employees who need to access out-of-state reproductive care.
• In a post on Facebook, longtime Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg posted about the Supreme Court’s decision.
• “I grew up hearing stories from my mom about what women in our country went through before Roe,” she wrote. “My Mom had a friend who left the country to get a safe abortion. Most women could not afford to do this; some had back-alley abortions, which led all too often to serious health complications and sometimes even death. All women knew that they could possibly face impossible choices between controlling their futures and their health and breaking the law.”
• Sandberg went on to write, “I never thought my mom’s past would become my daughters’ futures. I cannot believe that I’m going to send my three daughters to college with fewer rights than I had. The Supreme Court’s ruling jeopardizes the health and the lives of millions of girls and women across the country.”
• The “Lean In” author wrote that the new ruling “threatens to undo the progress women have made in the workplace.”
• “It will make it harder for women to achieve their dreams,” she wrote. “And it will disproportionately impact women with the fewest resources. This is a huge setback. For ourselves, our daughters, and every generation that follows, we must keep up the fight. Together, we must protect and expand abortion access.”
• A representative for Meta said: “We intend to offer travel expense reimbursements, to the extent permitted by law, for employees who will need them to access out-of-state health care and reproductive services. We are in the process of assessing how best to do so given the legal complexities involved.”

• The tech giant previously announced to its employees that it would help cover costs for workers traveling to seek abortion access.
• “This support is being extended to include travel expense assistance for these and other medical services where access to care is limited in availability in an employee’s home geographic region,” Microsoft’s statement said.
• “May 9, Microsoft extexted travel expense assistance to employees seeking abortion and gender-affirming care” and who have limited access to these services in their home state.”

• The tech company told its employees Friday morning that it will cover employee and covered-dependent costs for travel for abortion, infertility, and gender-affirming care.

• Netflix told Insider the company planned to cover costs for any employees who were forced to travel to receive abortions.
• For employees and their dependents who are part of its U.S. health plans, Netflix added travel reimbursement coverage this summer for those who need to travel for cancer treatment, transplants, gender affirming care or abortion. The benefit is limited to a $10,000 lifetime allowance per service for each employee and their family.

• The sportswear company covers lodging and travel expenses for employees seeking health care not available near them.
• “No matter where our teammates are on their family planning journey — from contraception and abortion coverage, to pregnancy and family-building support through fertility, surrogacy and adoption benefits — we are here to support their decisions,” Nike said in a statement released on Friday.

• In a statement posted to Instagram, a spokesperson from the popular dating site said: “The #roevwade decision does not mean the fight is over. Reproductive rights are human rights. Act now by calling your representatives and demanding freedom and choice. We have no choice but to fight!”
• In addition, OkCupid sent an in-app notification to every user in the 26 states likely to ban abortion that encourages people to call their elected officials, a spokesperson told Insider.

• The outdoor goods maker covers the cost of medical insurance for all part-time and full-time employees; U.S. employees on its health plans are covered for abortion care and, as of last year, costs are covered for travel, lodging and food when restrictions to accessing abortion care exist. As part of a long-standing benefit, the company also provides bail for employees who are peacefully protesting.

• CEO Bob Bakish and chief people officer Nancy Phillips confirmed the company’s stance to staff on Friday, confirming, “reproductive health care through company-sponsored health insurance, including coverage for birth control, elective abortion care, miscarriage care and certain related travel expenses if the covered health service, such as abortion, is prohibited in your area,” in a memo obtained by Variety.

• Alexis Ohanian, the founder of social media platform Reddit, took to Twitter to weigh in on the news.

• The electric car company will cover up to $5,000 of travel expenses for employees and dependents who need it, Rivian announced following the ruling.
• “We believe a person’s right to choose when it comes to their body and reproductive health is a fundamental human right. It was without hesitation that we took action to protect our employees’ access to reproductive care,” Chief People Officer Helen Russell said in a memo to employees.

• Offer to relocate employees and their families after Texas abortion law goes into effect.
• CEO Marc Benioff tweeted Ohana if you want to move we’ll help you exit TX. Your choice.” with a red heart.

• In a Linkedin post, a company executive recognized that many of its workers are concerned right now. “In a company where more than 80% of our workforce are female identifying, we have a responsibility to protect the well-being and health of all employees, especially when our employees face serious public health consequences should the Court undo fifty years of progress and precedent,” wrote Corey Yribarren, Sephora’s chief people officer.
• The exec added that Sephora would be updating its benefits policy. “Our vision is that by October 1st, our soonest upcoming benefits cycle, if you live in a state that decides to restrict access to reproductive healthcare, Sephora will support travel costs to a state where you can safely receive treatment,” Yribarren wrote.

• A spokesperson for the social media giant told Insider the company will provide a travel and lodging benefit allowance of up to $10,000 for a worker or family member covered by their insurance who is seeking an abortion.
• “Snap remains committed to supporting access to important health care benefits for our team members, and have worked closely with our benefit providers to cover travel for team members seeking medical treatments, including abortion banned in their state of residence. Our goal is to ensure that all Snap team members are able to get access to the medical care they need, and when they need it,” the spokesperson said.

• “Like many of you, I’m deeply concerned by the draft Supreme Court opinion related to the constitutional right to abortion that was first established by Roe v. Wade,” Starbucks’ executive vice president, Sara Kelly, wrote in a letter to Starbucks employees. “Regardless of what the Supreme Court ends up deciding, we will always ensure our partners have access to quality healthcare.”

• The Sundance Film Festival and Sundance Institute announced that it “has augmented its healthcare benefits to include covering travel expenses” weeks before the Supreme Court decision, according to Variety. Its annual festival is scheduled to be held in Utah where an abortion ban is expected to be implemented.

• On May 6, Tesla’s “Safety Net” program and health insurance cover “travel and lodging support for those who may need to seek healthcare services in their home state.” 

• Although the rideshare company already covers travel expenses for access to health care, a spokesperson said Uber will reimburse drivers who may be sued for providing transportation to an abortion clinic, CNN reports.

• “We are aware of the Supreme Court’s opinion on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization,” a UnitedHealth Group spokesperson told Insider in a statement. “We respect and realize there are differing opinions on this important issue. This decision will affect our employees and the people we serve in different ways, depending on where they live, what type of insurance coverage they have and their specific plan details.”
• The spokesperson said the company’s teams “have been actively preparing for this decision.”
• “We are reviewing the court’s opinion now and will communicate more information as soon as possible,” the spokesperson said. “We remain committed to helping members and patients get access to their plan benefits and services.”

• UTA to Reimburse Travel Costs for Employees Affected by Potential Federal Abortion Ban 

• Walgreens told Insider that the company remains committed to “best supporting the health and wellbeing of our patients and customers.”
• “We are broadening our existing travel reimbursement benefits for those enrolled in our self-funded healthcare plans. This will allow for any medical, surgical, mental or substance abuse benefits under the plan if the participant does not have access to care or services within 50 miles of their home,” the company said in an updated statement.

• Walmart is expanding its employee health-care plans to cover more situations in which its staff might seek an abortion, making the nation’s largest private employer the latest firm to offer enhanced access to reproductive health services after Roe v. Wade was overturned.

• Warner Brothers said it would cover travel expenses for abortions. “In light of the Supreme Court’s recent decision, we immediately expanded our health care benefits options to cover transportation expenses for employees and their covered family members who need to travel to access abortion and reproductive care,” said a company representative.

• YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki previously spoke out about the impending fall of Roe in May. According to Fortune, the tech CEO said, “I believe reproductive rights are human rights, and to take away a law and a right that we’ve had for almost 50 years will be a big setback for women.”

• In a statement to Insider, a spokesperson said the real estate company supports its employees’ rights to make their own healthcare choices.”Our health benefits cover a wide range of reproductive health care services — including abortion, whether patient-elected, medically necessary, or both. And, effective June 1, we updated our health plan to reimburse up to $7,500 each time significant travel is necessary to access health care, including reproductive services or gender-affirming care. Moving forward, we will continue to ensure our coverage includes safe access to reproductive health care.”