Yelp is fighting back against strict abortion laws by covering the travel fees of employees who must travel to have the procedure done.
The new move was announced on Tuesday. While it covers all 4,000 employees at the online review services, the 200 workers in Texas will likely benefit most. Texas abortion laws prohibit abortions after six weeks. Due to this, many women have traveled to other states for abortions.
“We’ve long been a strong advocate for equality in the workplace and believe that gender equality cannot be achieved if women’s healthcare rights are restricted,” stated Miriam Warren, Yelp’s chief diversity officer.
Women forced to travel for abortions can submit receipts showing their trip costs directly to their insurance provider. The insurance company will then coordinate the rest without the patient having to notify anyone at the company.
Yelp’s efforts to support women’s rights are not isolated. Citigroup has also unveiled a plan to cover the travel expenses for thousands of Texas employees going out of state for abortions. However, any of its staff can take advantage of the benefit if needed. Apple and Levi Strauss & Co. have also rolled out financial support for employees traveling to get the procedure. Rideshare platforms Lyft and Uber will also cover legal fees for any driver who is sued for transporting passengers to an abortion appointment.
