New Survey Finds That Nearly 1 in 3 Employees Are Considering Leaving Their Company Over Its Response to the Overturning of Roe V. Wade

The equality nonprofit Catalyst recently published the results of a survey conducted by The Harris Poll, which asked employees what they want from their organizations related to abortion access. Catalyst commissioned this survey in the wake in the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade earlier this year.

Employees Want Clarity Around Abortion Benefits

According to the report, 44% of employees say their organization is not doing enough to ensure abortion access for employees, including providing healthcare plans that cover abortion, covering travel expenses for abortion care, and so on.  

Additionally, more than half of employees (59%) want more clarity and transparency about their organization’s policies and benefits for reproductive care.  

Most startling, however, was the finding that 30% of employees are considering leaving their organization because of how it responded to Roe v. Wade being overturned. Among respondents aged 18-34, this number jumped to 39% (34% women and 44% men).

Employee respondents also voiced concerns about their careers, with 33% saying they were concerned that they won’t have the career they planned because Roe v. Wade was overturned. Again, when looking at responses from employees aged 18-34, this jumped significantly to 46% (47% women and 44% men).  

To learn more about the complexities for employers, as well as the legal ramifications of the Supreme Court’s decision, listen to our past episode of “This Week in Benefits” below.

Nearly Half of Employees Want Abortion Benefits  

They survey also found that 43% of employees would likely use abortion access benefits, and 34% would not be able to afford to travel for an abortion if they (or their partner) without financial assistance.  

In a press release, Catalyst President and CEO Lorraine Hariton said, “The data is clear: abortion access is a critical workplace issue.”

“Employees are assessing their careers and making decisions based on how their leaders address this issue,” Hariton said. “Clear communication and meaningful action go a long way.” Looking for more exclusive content? Check out what’s trending on the Mployer Advisor blog, and be sure to tune in to the latest episode of “This Week in Benefits.”  

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