On Friday, Indiana’s governor signed into law a near-total abortion ban, making the state the first state to approve sweeping new restrictions since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June.
On Saturday morning, pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, one of Indiana’s largest employers, voiced strong opposition to the new regulations. “Given this new law, we will be compelled to plan to expand employment outside our home country,” it said in a statement.
The company, which employs more than 10,000 people in Indiana, began by stating that “abortion is a divisive and highly personal issue with no clear consensus among Indiana citizens.” . Eli Lilly noted that she has expanded employee health insurance coverage to include travel for reproductive services. But he added, “For some current and potential employees, that may not be enough.”
It was one of the first major employers to intervene in the new law in the state.
Shortly afterward, John Mills, spokesman for Cummins, an engine company that employs about 10,000 people in the state, said: And that our workforce is diverse. The bill has conflicting provisions that affect employees and hinder our ability to attract and retain top talent. He added that Cummins healthcare benefits cover elective reproductive health procedures, including medical travel benefits.
Mills also said he “shared concerns about this legislation with legislative leaders before and during the legislative process.”
Roche, a diagnostics maker with its North American headquarters in Indianapolis, could not immediately be reached for comment. Other companies with headquarters or large offices in Indiana did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
After the Supreme Court’s ruling, few companies directly intervened in this ruling. Reproductive Out of State far more said they would expand their employer’s health care coverage to cover travel and other expenses for employees who might need to seek his health care.
Some companies with a large presence in Indiana have previously said they will cover employee travel expenses. Kroger announced in June that it will cover up to $4,000 in travel expenses for employees on health care plans. It says it will move employees who want to leave. Kroger declined to comment. Salesforce did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In a statement, Eli Lilly described Indiana law as “one of the most restrictive anti-abortion laws in the United States.” “As a global company headquartered in Indianapolis for more than 145 years, we are working hard to retain and attract the thousands of people who are a key driver of our state’s economy. Thinking about it, we are forced to plan to expand employment outside our home country.”