Abortion: US companies participate, but not without risk

Some American companies took a stand on Friday on the abolition of the right to abortion by promising to reimburse their employees for necessary medical expenses, but the political setbacks also made the matter sensitive in terms of potential legal damages.

Jeremy Stapleman, boss of the Yelp site, responded by saying that the Supreme Court ruling “harms the health of women, revokes their rights and threatens to overturn the progress we have made for gender equality in the workplace since the 1973 ruling allowing abortion.”

He added on Twitter that “business leaders should speak up now and ask Congress” to incorporate this principle into the law.

Some big companies have abruptly overturned the Supreme Court decision.

Many, on the other hand, guarantee that their employees, wherever they work, will be able to access abortion by reimbursing them if the medical policy requires them to travel to the legal state for travel expenses.

Some companies, such as Yelp or Airbnb, enacted legislation banning any abortion from the moment it was detected on a fetal heart ultrasound in September after it came into force in Texas.

Gradually, others like Citigroup, Tesla or Amazon changed the health coverage they offered their employees. Another wave, including Starbucks, Levi Strauss and JPMorgan Chase, announced in May that the Supreme Court would reverse the abortion issue after it was leaked to the press.

According to the chain, some, such as Disney, who sent a memo to their employees, joined them on Friday, assuring them that the company was committed to providing them with quality care “no matter where they live.” CNBC News.

Most communities remained silent. This does not mean that they do not offer the same accommodation in their health insurance.

But Maurice Schweitzer, a professor at Wharton University in Pennsylvania, says public speaking is a double-edged sword.

“On the one hand, they want to involve their employees, especially those who are important in the tech sector, to lead by example,” he explained.

Immigration, LBGTQ rights, guns, racism … many big adults have chosen to speak openly. But on abortion, “the legal landscape is changing,” Mr. Schweitzer recalled.

For example, the elevator, which vows to pay the legal costs of drivers being dragged to court for moving a woman to another state for an abortion, can be “sued”. Like companies modifying their health coverage.

Bosses have also taken note of Disney’s recent disappointment in Florida.

The company initially decided not to speak out against a law banning the teaching of sexual orientation or gender identity in elementary school.

Pushed by employees, the boss, Bob Chopek, finally publicly criticized the text, provoking the wrath of conservative governor Ron Disantis and leading to the removal of the favorable administrative status that Disney World theme park had enjoyed for years.1960 in this state.

Eventually, Mr. Schweitzer analyzed “bored employees who blame the company for not speaking up in advance” and “money is spent because of the reaction of politicians”.