Don't Ban Equality

DBE is continuing to track how abortion access intersects with business, workforce and economic issues. Here's the news we’ve been following this week: [1] JURIST: Arizona court rules abortion ban after 15 weeks of pregnancy unconstitutional (Mar. 7) By Paige Miller https://lnkd.in/ekfFrZ_9 This week, Arizona ruled its abortion ban after 15 weeks as unconstitutional. This significant shift signals a positive impact on Arizona businesses that employ pregnant workers as employers will no longer face possible prosecution if they provide time off for reproductive health treatments. [2] The Associated Press: Trump has dropped a high-profile abortion case in Idaho. Here’s what that means (Mar.6) By Kimberlee Kruesi and Laura Ungar After the overturn of Roe v. Wade and an abortion ban was enacted in Idaho, former President Biden sued the state to protect pregnant people seeking emergency care via the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA). Trump’s decision to drop the lawsuit might have implications for workers accessing emergency care as well as potentially contribute to an even larger exodus of Idaho-based healthcare providers and workers. [3] Center for Reproductive Rights: People Planning to Have Families—A Critical Part of the Workforce — Are Leaving U.S. States with Abortion Bans (Mar. 4)? https://lnkd.in/eYSH7tPX States with severe abortion bans are experiencing a significant population loss. A recent study by the Institute of Women’s Policy Research estimates that the 13 states have lost more than 36,000 residents per quarter since the overturn of Roe v. Wade, while young people are also moving at higher rates than before.?

BREAKING: People who plan to have families are leaving states with abortion bans—a trend that could threaten the long-term economic stability of those states, according to a new study released today by the Institute for Women's Policy Research and supported by the Center for Reproductive Rights. The study, based on a survey of 10,000 adults and interviews with corporate leaders, explores how abortion restrictions are influencing where people live and work—and what they look for in employers. The findings highlight the critical role that access to reproductive health care plays in employee recruitment and retention and workplace satisfaction—as well as in states’ broader economic stability. Some of the study's key findings: ?? Abortion bans are deeply unpopular, particularly among younger individuals and those planning to have children. In states banning abortion, only 30 percent of respondents support their state’s abortion policies. ?? States with abortion bans are losing a critical part of the workforce—people who want to build families. One in five people planning to have children within the next decade has moved to another state—or knows someone that has—due to abortion restrictions. ?? Employees expect their employers to act on reproductive rights and health care. Fifty-seven percent of likely future parents said they prioritize employers that offer reproductive health care benefits. Most employed adults also believe companies should work with lawmakers to protect access to reproductive rights. Learn more about the new study: https://bit.ly/3EZFhJM

DBE is continuing to track how abortion access intersects with business, workforce and economic issues. Here's the news we’ve been following this week: [1] Time Inc.: Here Are Trump’s Major Moves Affecting Access to Reproductive Healthcare (Feb. 20)? By Chantelle Lee https://lnkd.in/e3X-pwQN? It’s unclear whether medication abortion will lose its approval from the Food and Drug Administration as the current administration has had a historically vague stance on abortion. However, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who is now the Secretary of Health & Human Services has said that the President has asked him to study the “safety of the drug.” [2] Reuters: EEOC must face states' challenge to Biden-era rule on abortion protections (Feb. 20) By Dan Wiessner https://lnkd.in/eggsJGSh? 17 Republican states are attempting to repeal a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission policy that provides workers who have abortions with the same legal protections as those who are pregnant or recently gave birth. The lawsuit was originally dismissed in April, but was revived this past Thursday. [3] POLITICO: Abortion access to restart in Missouri, clinics say, following state court ruling (Feb. 15) By Ali Bianco https://lnkd.in/ezawZMVr? Access to abortion and reproductive healthcare has been restored in Missouri as Planned Parenthood won a lawsuit, demonstrating that the regulations severely prohibited access to treatment. Missouri also established access to abortion as a constitutional amendment last November. [4] Bloomberg Law: Texas Attacks New York Abortion Shield With $100,000 Doctor Fine (Feb. 14)? By Ryan Autullo https://lnkd.in/e7Wc8TfV? After providing a Texas woman with abortion-inducing medication, the state has fined Dr. Maggie Carpenter $100,000, citing that she not only violated the area’s almost total abortion ban but could not practice in a state where she is not licensed. Coupled with the recent prosecution a separate New York doctor faced for helping a young Louisiana woman, it’s possible a precedent for criminalization could be set.

DBE is continuing to track how abortion access intersects with business, workforce and economic issues. Here's the news we’ve been following this week: [1] NBC News: New York governor rejects Louisiana's extradition request for doctor in abortion pill case (Feb. 13) By Chloe Atkins and Fallon Gallagher https://lnkd.in/dyNfv8MZ? New York Gov. Kathy Hochul rejected an extradition request for the doctor who was charged with prescribing abortion pills online to a Louisiana resident last month. This ongoing situation demonstrations the growing legal uncertainty for businesses, healthcare providers and workers navigating conflicting state laws on reproductive care. [2] The Floridian: Mast Files Bill Preventing Corporate Tax Write-Offs for Abortions, Child Transition Procedures (Feb. 13) By Grayson Bakich https://lnkd.in/dMWK_zcX? Florida Congressman Brian Mast proposed a bill to prevent businesses from receiving reimbursements for employees traveling to receive abortions or gender-affirming care. [3] Bloomberg Law: South Carolina Justices Seek Clarity on 'Heartbeat' Ban Terms (Feb. 14) By Mary Anne Pazanowski https://lnkd.in/dzq8bQe4? Abortion bans are driving medical professionals out of states as well as influencing where they do residencies — providers in South Carolina and other states are seeking clarification on the care they can give, which affects the quality of benefits employers offer in a state. [4] EconoFact: What Impact Has Repealing Roe v. Wade Had So Far? (Feb. 11) By Lilly Springer and David Slusky https://lnkd.in/dCZzhcHt According to a recent study by the National Bureau of Economic Research, the 13 states with total abortion bans lost 36,000 residents per quarter as of the second quarter of 2023. This indicates that restricting access to reproductive healthcare results in population loss, which negatively impacts the workforce.

DBE is continuing to track how abortion access intersects with business, workforce and economic issues. Here's the news we’ve been following this week: [1] Bloomberg Law: New York Prevails Over Anti-Abortion Center in 'Boss Ban' Suit (Feb. 3) By Mary Anne Pazanowski https://lnkd.in/ecp6nAp2 The state of New York was successful in upholding a law that prohibits companies from discriminating against employees regarding their reproductive health choices. An anti-abortion center initially filed a lawsuit suggesting that the policy violated their freedom of expressive association, but a federal court in New York found the organization did not have standing to challenge the law. [2] Prism Reports: Massachusetts sees sharp rise in out-of-state abortion patients as state bolsters provider protections (Feb. 3) By Matt Olszewski, MPH https://lnkd.in/ea8v8rRj? Massachusetts has passed emergency legislation to protect nurses providing abortions as a response to the surge of out-of-state patients. In 2023 6,115 people traveled to Massachusetts for abortion care. These protections could result in an increased migration of out-of-state practitioners. [3] AP News: Pentagon strips travel reimbursement for troops seeking abortions, fertility treatment (Jan. 31) By Lolita Baldor https://lnkd.in/ePi8_AkH? US Service members will no longer be reimbursed if they travel for reproductive health care, including abortions and fertility treatments. The director of the Pentagon’s human resources department signed the memo, enforcing the new policy. This measure could have a trickle-down effect on federal employees and publicly traded companies.?

DBE is continuing to track how abortion access intersects with business, workforce and economic issues. Here's the news we’ve been following this week: [1] Fast Company: A Missouri Republican has introduced a federal abortion ban in the House (Jan. 29) By Shalene Gupta https://lnkd.in/eiT4WSYT? A national abortion ban may be on the table as Missouri Republican Eric Burlison has introduced the Life at Conception bill, which would declare fetuses as “unborn persons” under the 14th amendment. [2] Los Angeles Times: Column: The population exodus from antiabortion states is underway and may be picking up steam (Jan. 29) By Michael Hiltzik https://lnkd.in/estD-TqP? Americans are fleeing from states with restrictions to access to reproductive healthcare in record numbers. According to a study conducted by Georgia Tech economists, at least 144,000 residents per year were leaving states with abortion bans by mid-2023. If this trend continues, this will result in a one percent decrease in those states’ populations.? [3] Healthcare Dive: RFK Jr. signals willingness to restrict abortion, despite prior stance (Jan. 29) By Emily Olsen, Sydney Halleman and Delilah Alvarado https://lnkd.in/eYEnvBZP? During his confirmation hearing for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated that he shared the President’s view of abortion as a “tragedy.” This could potentially indicate a severe restriction of access to reproductive healthcare that would put women and those assigned female at birth if RFK Jr. is confirmed. [4] Colorado Newsline: Trump orders ban foreign aid, rescind federal funds guidance for abortion (Jan. 28) By Kelcie Moseley-Morris, MPA and Sofia Resnick https://lnkd.in/eJ_GY-AA? President Trump signed an executive order to reinstate the Mexico City Policy, which prohibits foreign non-governmental organizations from receiving federal funding if they provide abortion services in the form of counseling, education or referrals. The policy is known as a “global gag rule” and severely restricts the work global health organizations can perform. [5] The Hill: Bipartisan lawmakers reintroduce bill to repeal ‘global gag rule’ on abortion reinstated by Trump (Jan. 29) By Ailia Zehra https://lnkd.in/eXEfhA9H? Senators from both sides of the aisle have come together in response to the President’s latest decision to prevent foreign federal aid from funding abortion services. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Lisa Murkowski, from New Hampshire and Alaska, respectively, have introduced a bill to permanently rescind the policy.

As the year progresses, DBE is continuing to track how abortion access intersects with business, workforce and economic issues. Here's the news we’ve been following this week: [1] The Hill: GOP senators introduce bill to ban taxpayer funding for abortions (Jan. 24)? By Alejandra O'Connell-Domenech https://lnkd.in/eT9bv4DQ? GOP lawmakers have reintroduced a bill to ban federal funding for reproductive healthcare services. This legislation would not only prevent abortions from being performed in federal healthcare institutions or by a federal employee, but also renders federal health insurance plans that cover abortion services ineligible for subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. [2] NBC News: Federal workers placed on leave by Trump's DEI order are angry and fearful of what lies ahead (Jan. 23)? By Gamboa, Suzanne, Matt Lavietes and Jo Yurcaba https://lnkd.in/egT-R9uM? This Wednesday, President Trump passed an executive order ending diversity, equity and inclusion programs within federal agencies, leading to numerous federal employees being placed on mandatory leave. This order could possibly impact women, those assigned female at birth and pregnant employees, leaving them unprotected from discrimination in the workplace. [3] EconoFact: Do State Abortion Bans Impact People's Location Decisions? (Jan. 21)? By Daniel Dench, Kelly Lifchez, Jason Lindo and Jancy Ling Liu https://lnkd.in/dKPY8s42? Research shows that young adults are less likely to live in states where access to reproductive healthcare is limited. In the year following a total abortion ban, "states are losing on net about 4.3 people per 10,000 residents due to the ban," resulting in a loss of 128,700 residents across the 13 states that implemented restrictions to reproductive healthcare. [4] Fast Company: Government website offering information on reproductive rights goes dark on Trump’s first day (Jan.21) By Tracy Brown Hamilton https://lnkd.in/e54DYzY5? On January 20th, the government website, "reproductiverights.gov" was taken offline, potentially signaling more extreme actions to come, such as the FDA rollback of abortion pills as well as the enforcement of the Comstock Act of 1873, which could potentially restrict access to reproductive healthcare nationwide. [5] BSR: Six Actions for Business in 2025 Post-Roe America (Jan.16) By Jennifer Stark and Ashley Lin https://lnkd.in/edeK9U8B Jennifer Stark, Co-Director, Center for Business and Social Justice, and Ashley Lin, Manager, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice, at BSR, advisor to Don't Ban Equality, lay out six actionable steps for companies to protect their workforce in a post Roe v. Wade America.

Today would have been the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Three years after its fall, we see that the restriction of access to abortions harms more than just workers’ access to healthcare. In a rapidly evolving landscape of state-by-state restrictions, what can businesses do to prepare, anticipate, and protect their workforce against efforts to criminalize and ban abortion access? https://lnkd.in/edeK9U8B Jennifer Stark, Co-Director, Center for Business and Social Justice, and Ashley Lin, Manager, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice, at BSR, advisor to Don’t Ban Equality, lay out six actionable steps for companies to protect their workforce and understand the collateral damage in post-Roe America. Don’t Ban Equality is committed to helping businesses navigate the latest on reproductive healthcare and explore actions they can take to protect their workforce and communities across the country.

On January 30th, Don't Ban Equality is hosting a virtual 30-minute call to educate the private sector about the latest on the reproductive health landscape in the United States and how to respond. The webinar is designed to help businesses of all sizes navigate the current and anticipated impacts and explore actions they can take to protect their workforce and communities across the country. Please join us on Thursday, January 30th, 2025 at 12:00 - 12:30 PM ET. RSVP no later than January 29th at 12 p.m. ET as all attendees are vetted before meeting registration is sent. https://lnkd.in/ecJs8BAN

As 2025 unfolds, DBE is continuing to track how abortion access intersects with business, workforce and economic issues. Here's the news we’ve been following this week: [1] WRAL: NC Gov. Josh Stein issues executive order on abortion, reproductive rights (Jan. 16)? By Will Doran https://lnkd.in/e82Zy82M North Carolina Governor Josh Stein issued an executive order allowing pregnant state employees to employees to refuse work assignments that would require them to travel to states with restrictive abortion laws. State agencies will also be able to reject any potential orders that may limit access to reproductive care and or force them to investigate doctors who provide abortions or other reproductive health-related treatments. [2] Healio: Dobbs decision continues to affect US physician workforce (Jan.14) By Jennifer R. Southall https://lnkd.in/eq47QQWy? Since the Dobbs decision, the majority of American physicians consider access to reproductive healthcare when choosing a state to practice in. According to a study conducted by the University of Kentucky, “only 7.8% of 2,063 respondents reported that the abortion ban would not affect their choice of practice location.” [3] Axios AM: We've heard enough - Share of adults who say they approve when groups speak up about political issues By Mike Allen https://lnkd.in/eXXGU_hr? Overall, adults are more likely to trust small business owners and entrepreneurs over celebrities, athletes or household names when it comes to politics.