Apple said it was monitoring legal challenges to the “uniquely draconian abortion law” that was just passed in Texas in a message posted on an internal staff message board today. To TechCrunch, Apple confirmed the message’s legitimacy.
The unsigned memo reads, “We are actively monitoring the legal procedures challenging Texas’s uniquely stringent abortion statute.” “In the interim, we want to remind you that Apple offers comprehensive benefits, including the ability for our employees to seek medical treatment outside of their home state if it is not available in their home state.”
The new rule, which effectively prohibits the vast majority of abortions in the state, is currently being challenged in court in a variety of ways. In recent days, a number of tech and non-tech companies have made public statements against the law. Salesforce has offered to relocate any Texas employees who are concerned about the state’s ability to receive reproductive care when the law takes effect. Match Group and Bumble, both based in Texas, put up offers to reimburse travel expenses for employees who needed care outside of the state.
The message does not specify any more efforts Apple will take to actively oppose the law, but it does state that Apple supports “our employees’ freedom to make their own reproductive health decisions.”
Apple is a major employer in Texas, with tens of thousands of employees on its Austin campus as well as a manufacturing factory and numerous Apple stores throughout the state.
The following is the complete wording of the message:
We at Apple believe that our employees have the freedom to make their own reproductive health decisions.
We’re keeping a close eye on the legal battles over Texas’s one-of-a-kind abortion restrictions. In the interim, we’d like to remind you that Apple offers extensive benefits, including the ability for our employees to seek medical treatment outside of their home state if it is not available in their home state. Your health plan carrier can assist you anonymously if you need assistance navigating your care or that of your dependents.
Your health and well-being remain our top priority, and we will continue to do all in our power to ensure that you and your family have access to Apple’s care.
