The corporate reaction to Roe v. Wade

In the midst of all the chaos, corporations have made their stances on the subject of abortion clear.  

The historic overturning of Roe v. Wade has caused a maelstrom of reactions all over the corporate landscape with the biggest companies taking a lead in attempting to assure abortion rights.

Microsoft, Meta, Disney, and various companies have made statements regarding the ruling. Many have expressed opinions while others have made policy changes for those in states that have strict abortion laws. 

Corporations have been largely supportive of employees having to travel to another state to get an abortion, while tech companies, in particular, have been forthright in their support of anyone traveling to another state for the procedure. 

The outcry against the ruling has been vocal and strong so far. Many states have mobilized “trigger laws” that were set up in case the ruling was overturned, creating additional hurdles other than getting the procedure itself.  

Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Arkansas are among many states that have banned abortions altogether. Some states like Louisiana have had their trigger laws blocked by judges, creating a standstill for abortions in certain places. 

Traveling somewhere to get an abortion may become a reality for many Americans living in states with abortion bans. The difficulties of obtaining an abortion in certain states have compelled companies to publically voice their stances.

For instance, Microsoft’s policies have been “extended to include travel expense assistance for these and other lawful medical services where access to care is limited in availability in an employee’s home geographic region,” according to a statement they made to GeekWire. Their medical policies have always included abortion and other services prior to these adjustments. 

Meta, formerly known as Facebook, echoed similar promises in a quote shared by Variety Digital Editor Todd Spangler. “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,” the tech company’s statement read. 

The assurance of support from Meta will be for its Austin, Texas location. The state has been adamant with its own strict, heavily criticized abortion laws. Given the stringent nature of its laws, it remains to be seen what Texas’ reaction to this will be. 

Video Game Companies Post Statements

In digital entertainment, video game companies have come out en masse voicing support for employees seeking an abortion. Senior Community Manager of Bungie Dylan Gafner shared an update to the company’s original statement on reproductive rights on Twitter. 

“As we continue to expand our digital-first workplace to more states, we will now be implementing a travel reimbursement program for any employee to use…”

The company has a history of expressing its stances on sensitive subjects, so its statement on abortion rights comes as no surprise. 

Game companies based in Texas such as id Software and Devolver Digital have been active on the matter on Twitter, but it remains to be seen whether or not they will follow suit with policy changes of their own.

Retailers Make Changes

Retailers have also adjusted policies for employees seeking out-of-state abortions. San Francisco-based Levi Strauss reiterated their own stance on reproductive rights and even provided grants to the Center for Reproductive Rights. DICK’S Sporting Goods CEO Lauren Hobart responded to the ruling on a LinkedIn post. 

Despite making the company’s stance on the issue clear, she acknowledged that many would not agree with the decision. “We recognize people feel passionately about this topic…However, we also recognize that decisions involving health and families are deeply personal and made with thoughtful consideration,” concluded the post. 

So far, there has been no response from any company suggesting support for the Supreme Court ruling. The full extent of the fallout from the decision has yet to be felt.

You can reach Eloin Barahona-Garcia at eloin@beaconmedianews.com.

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