All the brands that have pledged to help US staff get access to safe abortions

Fears that the Supreme Court will approve a draft ruling that would allow outright bans on abortion are growing

Supreme Court Abortion (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

As women in the several states across the US face being stripped of their right to legal abortion, some companies have taken it upon themselves to help their staff gain access to the procedure if and when they need it.

On Wednesday, US Senate Democrats failed to pass a bill that would have protected abortion access. The blow comes as the Supreme Court potentially prepares to overturn Roe v Wade, the 1973 ruling that enshrined the constitutional right to abortion.

Last week, a leak of the Supreme Court’s draft ruling written by conservative Justice Samuel Alito described Roe v Wade as “egregiously wrong”. If approved, it would result in states being allowed to choose to ban abortion outright.

At least 26 states already have laws or constitutional amendments to severely restrict or ban abortion in place that could be triggered immediately if the Supreme Court approves the draft ruling. These include Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Oklahoma.

In response to the growing fears over abortion bans, several companies have pledged to ensure their employees in the US will be able to access the vital reproductive healthcare.

From fashion labels to tech companies, these are the brands that are stepping in.

Levi Strauss & Co

Levi’s became the first fashion retailer to pledge financial help for its US employees who need abortions.

In a statement last week, the company said: “Given what is at stake, business leaders need to make their voices heard and act to protect the health and wellbeing of our employees.”

Levi’s employees will also be able to access a reimbursement scheme for “healthcare-related travel expenses for services not available in their home state, including those related to reproductive healthcare and abortion”.

Gucci

Gucci became the most recent company to announce it would help American employees to gain access to safe abortion if they live in a state that is seeking to ban it.

The Italian luxury fashion house said in a statement on Sunday: “When Gucci founded the global Chime for Change campaign in 2013, the company committed to use its voice and resources in the global fight for gender equality.

“As we now face a critical moment in US history, Gucci remains steadfast in its belief that access to reproductive healthcare is a fundamental human right.”

The brand pledged to reimburse travel costs for any US employee who needs “access to healthcare not available in their home state”.

It also promised to continue supporting partner organisations that “enable access to reproductive health and protect human rights, especially for the most vulnerable”.

Amazon

Amazon, which is the second-largest employer and biggest online retailer in the US, said it will cover up to US$4,000 for travel related to reproductive healthcare and other conditions.

According to Reuters, Amazon told staff on Monday 2 May that the benefit applies to non-life threatening medical treatments, including abortions.

Apple

Technology giant Apple confirmed last month to US news website Axios that it would cover the cost of abortions for workers, as well as any travel fees required.

Citigroup

Citigroup, one of America’s biggest firms that employs more than 200,000 people worldwide and 64,000 in the US alone, said in a regulatory filing that it would cover the travel expenses of US staff seeking abortions.

Yelp

In a similar move as the other companies, Yelp has also pledged to cover the travel expenses of employees who need to travel out of state for abortions.

Mirriam Warren, Yelp’s chief diversity officer, said: “We’ve long been a strong advocate for equality in the workplace, and believe that gender equality cannot be achieved if women’s healthcare rights are restricted.”