Home » Employment News » Roe vs Wade: Walmart is considering the ‘best path forward’ on support staff over abortions

Roe vs Wade: Walmart is considering the ‘best path forward’ on support staff over abortions

By Nithya Bose in Employment News, posted July 4, 2022

Walmart is considering the best way to respond to a Supreme Court ruling that effectively terminated the constitutional right to abortion.

CEO Doug McMillon did not say exactly what the firm is contemplating, such as whether it will reimburse the fees on traveling for employees who must fly to another state where abortion is legal.

He said: “We are working thoughtfully and diligently to figure out the best path forward, guided by our desire to support our associates, all of our associates.”

“We will share details on our actions as soon as possible, recognizing that time is of the essence.”

Arkansas, the state where Walmart is headquartered, is one of the numerous states that imposed significant restrictions or outright bans on abortions following the court's decision.

Walmart is the country's largest private employer with more than 1.6 million employees nationwide.

It includes many people who live and work in abortion-restricted states like Texas, Oklahoma, and Florida.

Companies around the country have had a range of reactions after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

JPMorgan Chase, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Target, among others, have announced new arrangements to support employee travel to other states for abortions.

Others, such as Google and Apple, have stated that they already cover medical treatment and reproductive health care travel. Others, though, have kept silent.

Amazon, the country's second-largest private employer, said in May that it would cover up to $4,000 in travel fees per year for non-life-threatening medical treatments such as abortions.

Some medical procedures, such as certain heart surgery, cancer treatments, and organ transplants, are already covered by Walmart. Only a few abortions are covered under its health benefits.

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The company’s employee handbook mentions, that charges for “procedures, services, drugs and supplies related to abortions or termination of pregnancy are not covered, except when the health of the mother would be in danger if the fetus were carried to term, the fetus could not survive the birthing process, or death would be imminent after birth.”

McMillon stated that Walmart has solicited employee feedback as it determines what to do. He also mentioned the company's and its customers' size and variety.

Source: CNBC

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