• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Social Security's 2032 deadline puts a 22% cut on the table — but Washington has way less room to negotiate than 1983

2

Boomers actually do hold most of the wealth and power. So why do they call it 'whiny' to point that out?

3

CEO of $20 billion AI firm Perplexity says the secret to success is ‘sleeping with that fear’ that your competitor will steal your idea

1

Social Security's 2032 deadline puts a 22% cut on the table — but Washington has way less room to negotiate than 1983

2

Boomers actually do hold most of the wealth and power. So why do they call it 'whiny' to point that out?

3

CEO of $20 billion AI firm Perplexity says the secret to success is ‘sleeping with that fear’ that your competitor will steal your idea
Health

Corporate America’s response to Roe v. Wade is so far limited to new travel policies. Advocates say that should be the start, not the end

By
Andrew Marquardt
Andrew Marquardt
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Andrew Marquardt
Andrew Marquardt
Down Arrow Button Icon
May 10, 2022, 6:00 AM ET

Less than a week after a leaked Supreme Court draft opinion signaled that the court is preparing to overturn Roe v. Wade, many of America’s biggest companies have responded by announcing they will cover the costs of employees who need to travel to get an abortion.

If the ruling stands, abortion will no longer be protected as a constitutional right, and states will be able to impose stronger restrictions on who’s eligible for an abortion, or ban the procedure altogether. There are at least 13 states that have trigger laws in place that would outlaw abortions the moment Roe v. Wade is officially overturned. 

The response from some of the country’s biggest corporations has been swift. Amazon, Microsoft, Tesla, Apple, and Citigroup, among others, have pledged to cover any costs employees incur related to having to travel to receive an abortion in another state. 

In a statement Monday, Microsoft said it will support employees and their enrolled dependents in accessing critical health care, including abortion services and gender-affirming care. 

“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.”

Last week, Amazon said it will reimburse employees up to $4,000 annually when they’re forced to travel over 100 miles to obtain an abortion or other medical treatments. 

The swift corporate response is welcome news to abortion-rights advocates who stress the critical importance of corporate leaders supporting women’s reproductive rights.

“It is a great thing that companies are willing to do this, and I think it really defines what social responsibility for companies looks like,” Christian Nunes, president of the National Organization for Women, told Fortune. “It shows they understand the importance of their employees’ reproductive rights and that they’re willing to make sure they are protected.”

But advocates say that offering to pay for travel costs is just one of many equally important steps companies can and should take to safeguard their employees’ rights. 

Here are some other crucial steps companies can take in their response to support their employees’ rights, according to abortion-rights advocates.

Conduct an insurance policy self-audit

Among the first things a company should do is conduct a self-audit to identify and remove any obstacles to employees who need an abortion or other reproductive care, said Shelley Alpern, director of corporate engagement at Rhia Ventures, a nonprofit that advises and invests in companies that provide equitable reproductive and maternal health care to employees.  

“Many companies don’t cover elective abortions or medically necessary abortions without even knowing it,” she told Fortune. “A lot of times these policies just kind of sit on the shelf, and companies may not even be aware of this fact.”

Alpern said companies must make statements both publicly and privately so that employees know that their work-sponsored health insurance policies cover both elective and medically necessary abortions.

Ensure employees have proper benefits and remote work options

Advocates also stressed the importance of providing employees with options when it comes to their reproductive health. 

Companies should consider expanding benefits to employees, including offering paid time off instead of sick days, according to Nunes, from NOW. 

“Implementing PTO [paid time off] means that employees don’t need to explain the reasons why they are taking time off. If someone is taking off to get an abortion, PTO will help protect that employee and their privacy,” she said.

Another benefit advocates should consider is flexibility surrounding remote work, especially as more states begin passing restrictive abortion laws in the buildup of the potential overturning of Roe v. Wade. 

“Companies should revisit their remote work policy, so that if a company is headquartered in a state that bans abortions, they might rethink whether they absolutely need someone working in the office physically, especially if that person would prefer to live in another state,” Alpern said.

Refuse to support antiabortion politicians 

Advocates say one of the most consequential things a company can do to support abortion rights is to apply pressure to lawmakers to pass legislation that will protect reproductive rights, and to refuse to make donations to politicians who support overturning Roe v. Wade.

“Companies should refrain from supporting politicians and political committees that are working to restrict access,” Alpern from Rhia Ventures said. 

Companies have the ability to influence legislation, and it is their responsibility to stick up for their employees, advocates say.

“The more corporations who are willing to stand up with their corporate dollars and say, ‘We will not support elected officials who support taking away basic reproductive rights,’ or who say, ‘We will not endorse you anymore,’ the more they will help shift power toward justice,” Nunes said.

Overall, advocates say, when it comes to abortion, taking a stand in support of employees’ rights is “about more than [just] altruism,” according to Alpern.

“This is essential health care to so many employees,” Alpern said. “For companies that are really dependent on women’s labor, it becomes a business decision. [Supporting reproductive rights] is about making commitments to advancing women within the workplace.” 

Sign up for the Fortune Features email list so you don’t miss our biggest features, exclusive interviews, and investigations.
About the Author
By Andrew Marquardt
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Health

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Health

Prices for whey protein ingredients are up as much as 250% on U.S. dairy commodities markets as demand soars
RetailFood and drink
Prices for whey protein ingredients are up as much as 250% on U.S. dairy commodities markets as demand soars
By Dee-Ann Durbin and The Associated PressJune 14, 2026
12 hours ago
Middle-aged adults taking GLP-1s for obesity can save over $192K on lifetime medical costs, higher if they don’t have college degrees, new study finds
HealthHealth
Middle-aged adults taking GLP-1s for obesity can save over $192K on lifetime medical costs, higher if they don’t have college degrees, new study finds
By Mia OsmonbekovJune 14, 2026
19 hours ago
U.S.’s screwworm fix is still a year away, risking more spread
North AmericaAgriculture
U.S.’s screwworm fix is still a year away, risking more spread
By Ilena Peng and BloombergJune 13, 2026
1 day ago
Meet the lone star tick: the primary U.S. source of alpha-gal syndrome, which is a life-threatening meat allergy that’s on the rise
HealthHealth
Meet the lone star tick: the primary U.S. source of alpha-gal syndrome, which is a life-threatening meat allergy that’s on the rise
By Matthew Perrone and The Associated PressJune 13, 2026
2 days ago
arms
HealthPsychology
You probably think you’re a really open-minded person, but the real thing raises your death anxiety
By Daryl Van Tongeren and The ConversationJune 12, 2026
2 days ago
AI was supposed to cut health care costs. One of its first jobs was charging you more, PwC report shows
AIHealth Care Service
AI was supposed to cut health care costs. One of its first jobs was charging you more, PwC report shows
By Whizy Kim and Tech BrewJune 12, 2026
2 days ago

Most Popular

Social Security's 2032 deadline puts a 22% cut on the table — but Washington has way less room to negotiate than 1983
Personal Finance
Social Security's 2032 deadline puts a 22% cut on the table — but Washington has way less room to negotiate than 1983
By John W. Diamond and The ConversationJune 12, 2026
2 days ago
Boomers actually do hold most of the wealth and power. So why do they call it 'whiny' to point that out?
Economy
Boomers actually do hold most of the wealth and power. So why do they call it 'whiny' to point that out?
By Nick LichtenbergJune 14, 2026
16 hours ago
CEO of $20 billion AI firm Perplexity says the secret to success is ‘sleeping with that fear’ that your competitor will steal your idea
Success
CEO of $20 billion AI firm Perplexity says the secret to success is ‘sleeping with that fear’ that your competitor will steal your idea
By Preston ForeJune 13, 2026
2 days ago
Iran proved it can close the Strait of Hormuz, but the U.S. is advertising very loudly that the world's top superpower can at least punch open a hole
Energy
Iran proved it can close the Strait of Hormuz, but the U.S. is advertising very loudly that the world's top superpower can at least punch open a hole
By Jason MaJune 14, 2026
9 hours ago
Gen Z fled San Francisco for Texas and Florida. Now they’re turning ‘welcomer cities’ into the next big tech towns
Real Estate
Gen Z fled San Francisco for Texas and Florida. Now they’re turning ‘welcomer cities’ into the next big tech towns
By Sydney LakeJune 13, 2026
2 days ago
The Gen Z cofounder of $1.6 billion Whop says his platform has minted over 650 millionaires—he wants to make work fun and money worries obsolete
Success
The Gen Z cofounder of $1.6 billion Whop says his platform has minted over 650 millionaires—he wants to make work fun and money worries obsolete
By Emma BurleighJune 14, 2026
17 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.