US Supreme Court ruling: Companies want to cover travel expenses for employees who have abortions

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Protests against Supreme Court verdict in Indianapolis.

Photo: AJ Mast/AP

In view of the far-reaching abortion bans in a growing number of US states, several large American companies are offering their employees the option of covering any travel expenses for a visit to another state in the event of an abortion.

A number of corporations such as the café chain Starbucks or the online retail giant Amazon had previously promised such regulations in view of the impending decision of the US Supreme Court.

After the Supreme Court actually overturned the country's liberal abortion law on Friday, various other companies announced corresponding steps.

These include the entertainment giant Walt Disney and the Facebook group Meta, as reported by the New York Times and the television station NBC.

The outdoor specialist Patagonia said on Friday (local time) in a post on the online portal LinkedIn not only support for travel expenses to other US states.

The company also pledged to pay bail costs if employees were arrested and found peacefully demonstrating for "reproductive justice."

The Supreme Court overturned the country's liberal abortion laws on Friday, paving the way for stricter abortion laws -- even outright bans.

After the controversial decision, several US states have already enacted far-reaching abortion bans.

Others might follow.

Some states have already prepared laws for this.

Spontaneous protests against the court decision erupted in several US cities on Friday.

More demonstrations were expected.

ktz/dpa