Companies Implementing Paid Abortion Leaves

Since the passage of Indiana’s abortion ban, dozens of companies have promised to help their employees bypass the restrictions by paying for travel to get the procedure out of state.

 

On the surface, this may seem like a great and progressive move. But there are a few problems with this approach.

 

First, it perpetuates the idea that abortions are something that needs to be hidden away or done in secret. This is not the case – abortions are common medical procedures that should be accessible to everyone.

 

Second, it burdens individuals to find and pay for their travel arrangements – which can be costly and logistically difficult, especially for those who live in rural areas.

 

Finally, it does nothing to address the underlying problem –abortion bans are unconstitutional and violate women’s right to choose.

 

When it comes to reproductive rights, companies need to do better than just paying their employees to travel out of state for an abortion. They need to advocate for the repeal of these harmful laws, and they need to make sure that their employees have access to quality reproductive health care. Only then will they truly support their employees – and women’s rights.

 

According to Bethany Corbin, an attorney specialising in women’s health technology, many of these companies have yet to implement a plan for what comes after the pledge. They’ll need to figure out how their travel policy works logistically, but they should also prepare to defend it in court. “I think when many companies came out and made these promises, they weren’t necessarily thinking about their liability,” she told me.

When Indiana passed its abortion ban earlier this year, dozens of companies pledged to help their employees bypass the restrictions by paying for travel to get the procedure out of state.

 

These policies, which companies are implementing in response to abortion bans, are well-intentioned. But they do not solve the underlying problem and create new issues. It’s time for companies to rethink their approach instead of just paying their employees to travel out of state for an abortion.

 

By advocating for the repeal of these harmful laws, companies can take a stand for their employees – and women’s rights.

 

According to a recent report from the Guttmacher Institute, more than half of US women live in states that are hostile to abortion rights. This means they risk losing access to abortion if these laws are not repealed.

 

In addition to advocating for the repeal of these laws, companies can also take steps to make sure that their employees have access to affordable, quality reproductive health care. This includes providing comprehensive insurance coverage for abortion and contraception, on-site child care and paid family leave.

 

If companies want to help their employees, they should be advocating for repealing these harmful laws, not just paying their employees to travel out of state for an abortion.

 

Companies such as Amazon, Apple, and Disney have taken a stand against these abortion bans – it’s time for others to do the same.

 

What do you think? Should companies be advocating for the repeal of abortion bans? Or is it enough to help their employees travel out of state for an abortion? Share your thoughts in the comments.

 

For more news on international education, politics, socio-economics, etc. , follow us on IPGCE and WeChat.