Tesla pays journey costs for workers looking for abortion services

Tesla is covering journey prices for workers looking for out-of-state abortions, becoming a member of the ranks of main companies who’ve launched an identical policy to learn employees affected by new restrictions prior to now few months.

The company stated in its 2021 “ Influence Report ” released Friday that it expanded its Security Internet program and health insurance choices final yr to incorporate “travel and lodging assist for individuals who might have to seek healthcare providers which are unavailable in their dwelling state.”

The car maker officially moved its corporate headquarters final 12 months from Silicon Valley to Texas, which passed a regulation banning abortions at roughly six weeks of being pregnant.

Other states have since launched new restrictions, and a political firestorm was set off this week with the leaked draft of a Supreme Court docket opinion that might abolish a nationwide right to an abortion.

Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers are taking purpose at firms offering to help girls seeking abortions in states with less restrictive legal guidelines.

Texas State Representative Briscoe Cain, a Republican, has mentioned he would suggest laws barring native governments within the state from doing business with any firm that gives journey benefits for workers looking for abortions. Nationally, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio introduced a invoice on Wednesday that might prohibit corporations from claiming tax deductions for such costs.

Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but he tweeted in September that he believes “authorities ought to hardly ever impose its will upon the people, and, when doing so, ought to aspire to maximize their cumulative happiness. That mentioned, I would favor to remain out of politics.”