Dear Commons Community,

Several companies including Microsoft, Yelp Inc, Citigroup, Levi Strauss & Co, and Amazon have pledged to cover costs for American employees who need to travel out of state for an abortion.

The issue has gained urgency now that 31 states have introduced abortion bans this year, according to policy analysis by research group Guttmacher Institute.

Here are brief descriptions of their benefits.

Microsoft

Microsoft will “continue to do everything we can under the law to protect our employees’ rights and support employees” in accessing critical healthcare, which includes services like abortion and gender-affirming care, in the United States, a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement to Reuters.

“This support is being extended to include travel expense assistance for these and other medical services where access to care is limited in availability in an employee’s home geographic region.”

Amazon

Retail giant Amazon says it will pay employees up to $4,000 to cover travel expenses related to non-life-threatening medical treatments – including abortion, Reuters reports. The company already offers up to $10,000 in travel costs for life-threatening medical care.

The benefit has already gone into effect and will cover travel costs if a procedure isn’t available within 100 miles of a U.S. employee’s home. Reimbursements apply to both corporate and warehouse employees, according to Reuters.

Levi Strauss & Co.

In a statement Wednesday, the clothing company explained “access to reproductive health care, including abortion, has been a critical factor to the workplace gains and contributions women have made over the past 50 years.”

Levi’s, most known for its denim items, says an overturn of abortion access would jeopardize female progress – the workforce is 58% female. The company also points to data indicating how Black and Hispanic women would be disproportionately affected by a dismantling of Roe.

The company says its position “is aligned with majority public opinion” and that, realistically, allowing states to decide reproductive laws would mean companies would need different health benefits and policies for different employees in different states.

Levi’s says its current benefits plan allows reimbursement for healthcare-related travel expenses not available in an employee’s home state, including abortion.

In its statement, Levi’s writes: “Our position on this is in keeping with our efforts to support employees and family members at all stages of their lives… 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. That means protecting reproductive rights.”

Citigroup

The company behind Citibank filed an annual proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in April laying out its year ahead, including its employee development. Citigroup writes: “In response to changes in reproductive healthcare laws in certain states in the U.S., beginning in 2022 we provide travel benefits to facilitate access to adequate resources.”

In addition to reproductive care help, Citigroup says it’s broadening gender affirmation medical coverage for employees.

Lyft

The ridesharing company previously shared statements on reproductive rights challenges.

Ahead of the SCOTUS opinion leak, Lyft spoke out April 29 regarding Oklahoma’s Senate Bill 1508, which would, like Texas’ Senate Bill 8, would allow individuals to sue anyone who helps someone get abortive care. Lyft wrote: “Women’s rights are under attack again, this time in Oklahoma. We believe transportation should never be a barrier to a woman’s access to healthcare.”

Lyft says U.S. employees in Texas and Oklahoma who are enrolled in benefits will have travel costs covered for abortion procedures requiring them to go out of state. Additionally, the company says its drivers who are sued under the Texas and Oklahoma bills will have 100% of their legal fees covered.

Beyond employee benefits, Lyft says it’s also creating a “safe state” program with health care providers to help cover out-of-state travel costs for women in Oklahoma and Texas who are seeking abortion.

Salesforce

Cloud computing company Salesforce announced in September 2021 that it would help Texas employees who are seeking abortions in other states, CNN explains. The company, which owns office messenger Slack, has 56,000 employees and 16 locations.

In a Slack message to workers, Salesforce said: “[We] stand with all of our women at Salesforce and everywhere… if you have concerns about access to reproductive healthcare in your state, Salesforce will help relocate you and members of your immediate family.”

Yelp

In a statement on Tuesday, online business review company Yelp said: “Turning back the clock on the progress women have made over the past 50 years will have a seismic impact on our society and economy… This goes against the will of the vast majority of Americans who agree that decisions around reproductive care should be made by women and their doctors.”

A Yelp representative told CNN that while its health insurance already covers abortive care, its benefits will include travel costs for U.S. employees (and their dependents) who must travel for the procedure.

“It’s a priority for us to offer our employees consistent healthcare coverage, regardless of where they live,” the rep told CNN.

Congratulations to these companies for stepping up,

Tony