With today’s Supreme Court ruling on the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, we want to reiterate our commitment to supporting reproductive rights.
We stand strongly against any actions that hinder the health and well-being of our employees, which means opposing any steps to restrict access to the full range of reproductive health care, including abortion. Protection of reproductive rights is a critical business issue impacting our workforce, our economy, and progress toward gender and racial equity.
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. One way we have made our voice heard is by joining more than 230 other companies on the Don’t Ban Equality statement, which outlines the economic impacts – on individuals, on business, and on state economies – of restrictive reproductive rights policies.
With the welfare of our employees at the core of our commitment, we will continue to ensure our employees can get the care they need regardless of their location, through a benefits plan that allows for reimbursement for travel expenses incurred for any covered medical expense not available within 50 miles of where an employee lives. There is also a process in place through which employees not in our benefits plan, including part-time hourly workers, can receive financial assistance if travel-related expense for any medical care creates an economic hardship.
Lastly, to support reproductive health organizations on the front lines of this issue, the Levi Strauss Foundation is providing grants to the Center for Reproductive Rights, which is leading the national legal effort to preserve reproductive rights, as well as organizations providing direct assistance to impacted individuals and communities, including Afiya Center and ARC-Southeast.
You can read more about why we believe protecting reproductive rights is a business imperative here.
