CEO Tim Cook spoke about the company’s plans to support Texas employees affected by the state’s new abortion law, known as the ‘heartbeat’ bill. During an all-staff meeting broadcasted to 160,000 Apple employees worldwide, the tech giant’s CEO noted that the company’s medical insurance would come into effect to help cover the costs incurred by workers who need to travel because of Texas’ abortion law restrictions.
The state law came into effect in early September, prohibiting most abortions after a heartbeat was detected in the fetus, as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. The law will also pay legal fees of a minimum of $10,000 to anyone who sues someone, like an insurance professional or a medical practitioner, who ‘aids or abets’ an abortion once a heartbeat is detected.
Cook also said Apple was looking into helping with the legal case against the abortion law in Texas. The Biden administration has also sued Texas over the ban. A federal hearing is scheduled for October 1st to consider a temporary block to the abortion ban. Apple is one of the more prominent tech companies taking a position in Texas politics concerning reproductive rights.
