In response to the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade last week, outdoor apparel manufacturer Patagonia announced on Friday that the company will pay bail for employees who “peacefully protest for reproductive justice.”
The court’s overturning of the 1973 ruling guaranteeing a constitutional right to abortion has sparked protests across the country, with more rallies in support of reproductive rights planned for the coming days.
In addition to paying for bail, Patagonia stated in a release that it will cover airfare, lodging, and meal expenses for employees on their health care plan who need to travel to a different state to undergo abortion procedures. As of now, abortion is illegal or banned in Kentucky, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Texas.
According to a report by Axios, who spoke to Patagonia spokesperson J.J. Huggins, the company has had the bail policy in place for multiple years and its health care plan already covers the cost of abortion care.
“Caring for employees extends beyond basic health insurance, so we take a more holistic approach to coverage and support overall wellness to which every human has a right,” Patagonia wrote in a statement. “That means offering employees the dignity of access to reproductive health care. It means supporting employees’ choices around if or when they have a child. It means giving parents the resources they need to work and raise children.”
Other companies pledging to cover travel expenses for their employees who live in states that outlaw abortion include Apple, Condé Nast, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Disney, Mastercard, Meta, Netflix, Starbucks, Tesla, and Zillow.
Cover photo by ajay_suresh. Creative Commons Attribution License.
