Tesla can pay travel costs for employees seeking abortion providers

Tesla is protecting travel prices for employees looking for out-of-state abortions, becoming a member of the ranks of main firms who’ve launched an analogous policy to profit staff affected by new restrictions prior to now few months.

The company mentioned in its 2021 “ Affect Report ” launched Friday that it expanded its Security Internet program and medical insurance offerings final yr to include “travel and lodging help for individuals who may need to seek healthcare providers which can be unavailable in their residence state.”

The automotive maker formally moved its company headquarters final 12 months from Silicon Valley to Texas, which handed 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 may abolish a nationwide proper to an abortion.

In the meantime, Republican lawmakers are taking goal at corporations providing to assist ladies searching for abortions in states with less restrictive legal guidelines.

Texas State Representative Briscoe Cain, a Republican, has said he would suggest legislation barring native governments within the state from doing business with any firm that gives journey benefits for employees looking for abortions. Nationally, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio introduced a bill on Wednesday that might prohibit companies from claiming tax deductions for such prices.

Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk did not immediately reply to a request for remark, however he tweeted in September that he believes “government should hardly ever impose its will upon the folks, and, when doing so, should aspire to maximise their cumulative happiness. That mentioned, I would prefer to stay out of politics.”