Shiala Mahmood
Disney and Netflix have announced they will cover travel costs for employees seeking abortions.
Following the Supreme Court's decision yesterday (24 June) to overturn Roe v. Wade, Disney reached out to its employees to confirm it would be extending the 'family planning' benefit to any worker who cannot access care where they live, including abortions.
As part of its commitment to its employees, Disney will reimburse the travel cost for anyone who cannot access abortion safely in one location. The company has also confirmed the latest family planning benefit applies to family members of Disney employees.
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In a statement to The Washington Post, Disney said: "We have communicated directly with our employees today that we recognize the impact of the ruling and that we remain committed to providing comprehensive access to quality and affordable care for all of our employees, cast members and their families, including family planning and reproductive care, no matter where they live."
There are 195,000 employed worldwide by Disney, with roughly 80,000 working in Florida. In April, Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill banning most abortions after 15 weeks, which comes into effect on 1 July. Previously, abortion was legal until 24 weeks.
Netflix also announced it will offer up to $10,000 travel reimbursements to employees and their dependents, in need of cancer treatment, transplants, gender affirming care, or abortion.
Several other major media and entertainment companies have also confirmed they would be covering travel costs for employees.
Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish and Chief People Officer Nancy Phillips sent a memo to staff on Friday to confirm they would cover travel costs for employees seeking abortions. They highlighted a number of benefits including: "Reproductive health care through company-sponsored health insurance, including coverage for birth control, elective abortion care, miscarriage care and certain related travel expenses if the covered health service, such as abortion, is prohibited in your area.”
Warner Bros. Discovery will be expanding its healthcare benefits to cover employees travelling to another state for reproductive care. Variety also confirmed Comcast, the owner of NBCUniversal, have a travel benefit in place to cover employees’ medical services and procedures that aren’t available near an employee’s home.
A spokesperson for Meta has announced the tech giant will also reimburse travel costs but need to work out how to do so without breaking any laws. They said: "We are in the process of assessing how best to do so given the legal complexities involved."
Yesterday's decision by the Supreme Court overturned the 50-year-old Roe v. Wade ruling that granted millions of women the legal right to abortion.
The court ruling could see up to half of the states introducing new restrictions or bans on abortions, with 13 states including Texas and Louisiana already passed trigger laws, meaning ban on abortion will automatically go into effect following the Supreme Court's ruling.