Walmart, the nation’s largest employer, is expanding abortion coverage to employees after remaining largely silent following a Supreme Court ruling that decimated the nationwide right to abortion.
In a memo sent to employees Friday, the company said its health care plan will now cover abortion for employees “when there is a health risk to the mother, rape or incest, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage or lack of fetal viability.”
Previously, the company’s benefits plan covered abortion only in cases “when the health of the mother would be at risk for the termination of the fetus, the fetus could not survive the birth process, or death would be imminent after birth,” According to a copy of the policy seen by the Associated Press but not confirmed by Walmart.
Donna Morris, the retailer’s chief people officer, said in a memo to employees that the new policy would offer “travel assistance” for workers who are seeking abortions under their health care plans—as well as their dependents—so that they can help them. Access services that are not available within 100 miles of their locations.
Meanwhile, several other corporations and organizations representing the country’s most influential companies have remained silent on the issue.
Walmart’s careful detail of its abortion policy shows that it is attempting to balance various pressures and views from employees, investors and other stakeholders, said Vanessa Barbano, a professor at Columbia University’s business school. She researches how companies take social stances.
“It’s a lot harder initially than many people,” Barbano said. “It’s not like all their stakeholders agree on any of these issues, making it so challenging. They’re trying to figure out how to thread that needle.”
In Friday’s memo, the company said it would also launch a centre that provides fertility services to employees, such as in vitro fertilization. In addition, he promised to add surrogacy support and increase his financial aid for adoption from $5,000 to $20,000. In June, Walmart said it would expand its offering of doulas, or people who help women during pregnancy, to address racial disparities in maternity care.