Starbucks says it will now offer employees enrolled in its health care plan reimbursement for eligible travel expenses when accessing abortion or gender-affirming procedures, when those services are not available within 100 miles of a worker’s home.
The Seattle-based coffee chain said Monday that the benefit will also be available to dependents of employees enrolled in its health care coverage.
More companies are detailing their benefits on abortion care after draft of a Supreme Court opinion leaked that would abolish a nationwide right to abortion.
“Regardless of what the Supreme Court ends up deciding, we will always ensure our partners have access to quality health care,” Sara Kelly, Starbucks acting executive vice president of partner resources, wrote in a letter.
Last year more than 60 companies signed a letter in response to a Texas law banning abortions after roughly six weeks of pregnancy, forcing some women to travel out-of-state to access the procedure. Among others, jeans maker Levi Strauss & Co., the online reviews site Yelp, banking giant Citigroup and ride-hailing company Lyft pledged to cover travel costs for employees who have to travel long distances to access an abortion.
Earlier this month Tesla said it would cover travel costs for employees seeking out-of-state abortions.
(AP)
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3 Responses
Since I am so staunchly opposed to murder, following having read this article, I am discontinuing my patronizing of Starbucks.
“Starbucks has officially endorsed gay marriage since January 24th, 2012 when its support of the Washington State legislation recognizing marriage equality was officially released”
Howard Schultz is a Rasha.
It is in an employer’s (or insurance company’s) economic interest to convince female employees to avoid becoming pregnant, or if pregnant, to abort. Childbirth and raising a child will result in am employee being much less productive (perhaps in some cases even while pregnant, but eventually resulting in use of leave time for birth and child care).
One should ask what is Starbuck’s policy on paid maternity leave, paid parental leave to care for sick children, and subsidized child care. If an employer believe in “choice”, they would offer employees the option of having and raising a baby without economic penalty. All that this indicates is a desire of Starbucks to keep employees working, and not making choices that will result in them working less.