Tesla will pay travel prices for staff seeking abortion services

Tesla is overlaying travel prices for workers searching for out-of-state abortions, becoming a member of the ranks of main firms who’ve introduced a similar policy to benefit staff affected by new restrictions in the past few months.

The company said in its 2021 “ Impression Report ” released Friday that it expanded its Safety Internet program and health insurance offerings final 12 months to incorporate “journey and lodging support for many who may have to hunt healthcare companies which might be unavailable of their home state.”

The automotive maker officially moved its company headquarters final yr from Silicon Valley to Texas, which passed a legislation banning abortions at roughly six weeks of being pregnant.

Different 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 would abolish a nationwide right to an abortion.

Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers are taking aim at companies providing to help women looking for abortions in states with much less restrictive laws.

Texas State Representative Briscoe Cain, a Republican, has mentioned he would propose laws barring native governments within the state from doing enterprise with any company that provides journey advantages for employees seeking abortions. Nationally, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio launched a bill on Wednesday that might prohibit companies from claiming tax deductions for such prices.

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 folks, and, when doing so, ought to aspire to maximize their cumulative happiness. That stated, I would favor to stay out of politics.”