Tesla can pay journey costs for staff seeking abortion companies

Tesla is overlaying travel prices for workers searching for out-of-state abortions, becoming a member of the ranks of major companies who’ve launched an identical policy to profit staff affected by new restrictions prior to now few months.

The corporate said in its 2021 “ Affect Report ” launched Friday that it expanded its Safety Internet program and medical insurance offerings final yr to incorporate “journey and lodging help for many who may have to hunt healthcare services which can be unavailable of their house state.”

The car maker officially moved its company headquarters last year from Silicon Valley to Texas, which passed a regulation banning abortions at roughly six weeks of being pregnant.

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

Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers are taking purpose at corporations providing to assist women looking for abortions in states with much less restrictive legal guidelines.

Texas State Consultant Briscoe Cain, a Republican, has said he would propose laws barring local governments within the state from doing enterprise with any firm that provides journey advantages for employees searching for abortions. Nationally, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio launched a bill on Wednesday that may prohibit firms from claiming tax deductions for such prices.

Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk did not instantly reply to a request for comment, however he tweeted in September that he believes “government should not often impose its will upon the folks, and, when doing so, should aspire to maximize their cumulative happiness. That said, I would prefer to remain out of politics.”