Companies scramble to protect abortion access for employees after court ruling

theguardian.com:

Some of America’s largest companies moved swiftly to protect their employees’ access to abortion after Friday’s supreme court decision to end the constitutional right to an abortion in the US. The moves are likely to deepen an expanding rift between conservative Republicans and corporate America.

Disney, JP Morgan, Levi Strauss and Microsoft were among the companies to tell staff they would cover employee travel expenses for abortions in light of the supreme court’s decision to strike down Roe v Wade, the 1973 ruling that the constitution generally protects the right to choose an abortion.

“We recognize the impact of the ruling and that we remain committed to providing comprehensive access to quality and affordable care for all of our employees, cast members and their families, including family planning and reproductive care, no matter where they live,” Disney said in a statement.

In a statement Levi Strauss said: ​​“We stand strongly against any actions that hinder the health and well-being of our employees, which means opposing any steps to restrict access to the full range of reproductive health care, including abortion.

“Protection of reproductive rights is a critical business issue impacting our workforce, our economy, and progress toward gender and racial equity. Given what is at stake, business leaders need to make their voices heard and act to protect the health and well-being of our employees.”

The upending of Roe has left businesses scrambling to reassess their policies.

Jen Stark, co-director of the Center for Business and Social Justice, said the ruling was “deeply destabilizing” for companies and their employees and the situation would probably get worse.

“The fall of Roe is just the end of the beginning. We will