Disney, other American companies offer a travel benefit for abortion after Roe’s decision

NEW YORK, June 24 (Reuters) – U.S. companies like Walt Disney Co. (DIS.N) and parent company Facebook Meta Platforms Inc (META.O) said Friday they will cover employee expenses if they have to travel for abortion services after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday overturned the historic 1973 ruling recognizing women’s constitutional right to abortion, giving a transcendental victory to Republicans and religious conservatives who want to limit or ban, and in some states. criminalize the procedure. Read more

Many states are expected to further restrict or ban abortions after sentencing, making it difficult for employees to terminate their pregnancy unless they travel to states where the procedure is allowed.

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For example, in Oklahoma, a bill that will go into effect in August bans abortion except in medical emergencies and penalizes providers who break the law with fines of up to $ 100,000 and 10 years in prison. States that offer abortion protection include New York and Maryland. Read more

Disney on Friday told employees it remains committed to providing comprehensive access to quality health care, including abortions, according to a Disney spokesman. Read more

The company’s benefits will cover the cost of employees who need to travel elsewhere to access care, including getting an abortion, he said.

Meta will reimburse travel expenses to employees seeking reproductive care outside the state, but the company was also “evaluating the best way to do so given the legal complexities involved,” according to a spokesman.

Dick’s Sporting Goods (DKS.N) CEO Lauren Hobart told LinkedIn that the company would pay up to $ 4,000 in travel for employees or their families and a support person if the abortion is not available at prop.

Protesters of abortion rights protest in U.S. Supreme Court as court rules in Dobbs abortion case against Women’s Health Organization, overturning Roe v .’s historic abortion decision Wade in Washington, USA, June 24, 2022. REUTERS / Evelyn Hockstein

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Companies that offer abortion-related travel reimbursements could be vulnerable to lawsuits from anti-abortion groups and Republican-led states, and even to possible criminal sanctions.

Lawyers and other experts said employers could face claims that their policies violate state laws that prohibit, facilitate or help and encourage abortion.

Transportation company Lyft (LYFT.O) said it would legally protect drivers in abortion cases, and said it would expand a recent policy as new state laws are passed. “No driver should ask a motorist where he is going and why,” a spokesman said.

In May, a draft of the Supreme Court ruling on abortion was leaked. At the time, many other companies, including the online review site Yelp (YELP.N), Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) and Tesla (TSLA.O), said they would help cover the cost of travel for employees who they seek reproductive services. Apple (AAPL.O) reiterated that it supported employees making their own reproductive health decisions and that their health care covered travel for services not available nearby.

Yelp co-founder and CEO Jeremy Stoppelman said Friday that the ruling “endangers women’s health, denies them their human rights and threatens to dismantle the progress we have made toward gender equality in the job from Roe “.

Alaska Air Group (ALK.N), a parent company of Alaska Airlines, said Friday that it will “reimburse travel for certain medical procedures and treatments if they are not available where you live. Today’s Supreme Court decision does not change that.”

Other companies offering the advantage include Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N), online dating sites OkCupid and Bumble Inc (BMBL.O), Netflix Inc (NFLX.O) and JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N), the largest bank in the country. . Read more

OkCupid sent messages on the app to clients in 26 states who would likely ban abortion, preparing for a political struggle. “Act now by calling your representatives and demanding freedom and choice,” said a copy of the message tweeted by OkCupid’s director of marketing, Melissa Hobley.

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Report by Nivedita Balu and Tiyashi Datta in Bangalore, Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles, Doyinsola Oladipo and Daniel Wiessner in New York and David Shepardson in Washington; Written by Anna Driver; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Rosalba O’Brien

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