Google permits staff to relocate to states the place abortion is authorized

In mild of the United States Supreme Court’s choice overturning Roe v. Wade and giving particular person states the selection of banning or permitting abortions,  Google on Friday notified its American staff that it’ll permit them to relocate to a different state with out rationalization.

Google’s chief folks officer, Fiona Cicconi, on Friday despatched out a staff-wide memo reiterating that the corporate’s advantages plan and medical insurance in US cowl “out-of-state medical procedures that are not available where an employee lives and works.” In addition, Google staff can “apply for relocation without justification, and those overseeing this process will be aware of the situation.”

Google additionally will “keep working to make information on reproductive healthcare accessible across our products and continue our work to protect user privacy,” Cicconi added.

“This is a profound change for the country that deeply affects so many of us, especially women,” she wrote within the memo. “Please be mindful of what your co-workers may be feeling and, as always, treat each other with respect.”

Susan Wojcicki, CEO of Google-owned YouTube, tweeted on Friday: “As a CEO I recognize there are a spectrum of opinions on the SCOTUS ruling today. As a woman, it’s a devastating setback. I personally believe every woman should have a choice about how and when to become a mother. Reproductive rights are human rights.”

As a CEO I acknowledge there are a spectrum of opinions on the SCOTUS ruling at present. As a girl, it’s a devastating setback. I personally imagine each girl ought to have a selection about how and when to change into a mom. Reproductive rights are human rights.

— Susan Wojcicki (@SusanWojcicki) June 24, 2022

With the landmark Supreme Court ruling, different media and tech corporations together with Meta, Amazon, Netflix, Apple, Disney, Comcast, Microsoft, Bumble, Goldman Sachs, Nike, and Condé Nast have stated they are going to cowl journey prices for workers who want an abortion.

Here’s the textual content of Google’s memo to its staff:

Hi everybody,

This morning the US Supreme Court issued a ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that rolls again Roe v. Wade.

This is a profound change for the nation that deeply impacts so many people, particularly ladies. Everyone will reply in their very own manner, whether or not that’s wanting house and time to course of, talking up, volunteering exterior of labor, not wanting to debate it in any respect, or one thing else solely. Please be conscious of what your co-workers could also be feeling and, as all the time, deal with one another with respect.

Equity is very necessary to us as an organization, and we share considerations in regards to the influence this ruling can have on folks’s well being, lives, and careers. We will maintain working to make data on reproductive healthcare accessible throughout our merchandise and proceed our work to guard person privateness.

To assist Googlers and their dependents, our US advantages plan and medical insurance covers out-of-state medical procedures that aren’t accessible the place an worker lives and works. Googlers also can apply for relocation with out justification, and people overseeing this course of will concentrate on the scenario. If you want further assist, please join 1:1 with a People Consultant by way of [link to internal tool redacted].

We shall be arranging assist periods for Googlers within the US within the coming days. These shall be posted to Googler News.

Please don’t hesitate to lean in your Google neighborhood within the days forward and proceed to take excellent care of yourselves and one another.