Disney, Netflix and other companies respond to changes in US abortion rights

The U.S. Supreme Court voted to overturn the 50-year-old ‘Roe v. Wade’ decision. That is, states will be able to enact their own abortion laws, and perhaps half of the states will ban legal abortion.

THR, Deadline and other media reports: In response, Disney, Netflix, Comcast Corporation (Universal’s parent company), Warner, Sony, Paramount, WME, CAA, UTA and many other Hollywood film and television brokerage-related companies responded to employees, saying they would subsidize the travel expenses of employees for medical actions such as abortions.

For example, for full-time U.S. employees, Netflix says it will provide a $10,000 lifetime stipend to reimburse travel expenses incurred for cancer treatment, transplants, gender confirmation treatments or abortions.

Disney told employees that it would provide benefits to employees who may not be able to access treatment in their area to cover the cost of travel to receive treatment elsewhere, including costs associated with pregnancy-related decisions.

Paramount CEO Bob Bakish sent an email to employees stating that a period of great uncertainty has been entered throughout the United States.

At this point, Paramount wants to make clear what it is certain will not change, including the fact that if it is necessary to travel to another location for an abortion because abortion is prohibited where the employee is located, the company’s health policy states that the cost of travel will be covered.

Because the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision was leaked in draft opinion in early May, several companies have prepared for the matter.

For example, in May, UTA CEO Jeremy Zimmer emailed employees that he would reimburse female employees for travel expenses incurred because they were unable to receive maternity health services on site.

UTA opened a chapter in Tennessee not long ago, and the state is expected to introduce legislation to tighten its abortion policy.   

Related Post: Hollywood Responds to US Constitutional Abortion Rights Removed.