Australian-run software juggernaut Atlassian has vowed to help pay for its American employees to get a safe abortion, saying it ‘stands firmly against’ the US Supreme Court’s ruling.
The Supreme Court controversially elected to strike down Roe v. Wade, a nearly 50 year-old decision that granted women the constitutional right to abortion, sparking widespread protests.
But while it was a federal ruling, women can travel to a state that allows abortion if they have the means.
Atlassian will immediately pay ‘travel and accommodation’ costs for US-based employees – and ‘a companion’ – so they can get a safe abortion (Pictured co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes who tweeted the policy on Saturday morning, with wife Anne Cannon-Brookes)
The Supreme Court controversially elected to strike down Roe v. Wade, a nearly 50 year-old decision that granted women the constitutional right to abortion, sparking widespread protests
NEW YORK CITY: The pro-choice protesters marched from Union Square in Manhattan to Washington Square, and then up Park Avenue
Atlassian made it clear on Saturday morning it would immediately pay ‘travel and accommodation’ costs for US-based employees – and ‘a companion’ – so they can get a safe abortion.
Abortion remains legal in most states including California, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Nevada and Florida.
It is banned in five states including Texas, and a further 11 are expected to follow.
The Australian company is among several to have quickly offered such benefits – despite being threatened not to do so by Republican senators.
Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Netflix, Starbucks, Tesla, Meta (Facebook), Uber, Goldman Sachs and Citigroup have all pledged material support for staff wanting abortions.
Atlassian’s billionaire co-founder and joint-CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes tweeted his company’s ‘dismayed’ reaction on Saturday morning with a defiant statement.
The Australian company is among several to have quickly offered such benefits – despite being threatened not to do so by Republican senators (Pictured Atlassian’s co-founders and joint CEOs Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar)
Mike Brookes-Cannon was quick to alert social media on Saturday to his company’s official position on the US Supreme Court decision on abortion
‘Starting today US employees living in states that have restricted or banned abortions will be offered reimbursement for travel and accommodations for themselves and a companion should they seek care outside their state,’ the statement said.
‘Today’s decision by the Supreme Court not only strips away rights from women and pregnant people but puts their health and safety at risk.
‘At Atlassian we are dismayed at this decision and stand firmly against the restriction and removal of rights.’
Atlassian’s billionaire co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes tweeted his company’s ‘dismayed’ reaction on Saturday morning and a defiant statement.
It also said the health and safety of employees was a ‘priority’, including their ‘right to access safe and legal reproductive healthcare’.
Australian social media users praised Cannon-Brookes for Atlassian’s stand.
He and Scott Farquhar, who is the co-CEO, founded Atlassian in 2002 and are believed to live next to each other in Point Piper mansions.
Cannon-Brookes is married to fashion designer Anne Brookes-Cannon and in 2018 they bought Australia’s most expensive house for $100million at Point Piper.
Atlassian has over 8,000 US employees and the company has previously said about a quarter of its employees are women, but that it’s trying to ‘do better’ on diversity.
NEW YORK CITY: A crowd gathered on Friday evening in Washington Square Park to protest the Supreme Court’s reversal on Roe v. Wade
US polls show Americans favor legislation that would legalise abortion nationwide by over 20 per cent.
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio introduced a bill to the US senate designed to prohibit employers from deducting expenses related to their employees’ abortion travel costs.
The No Tax Breaks for Radical Corporate Activism Act would also ban them from claiming expenses for ‘gender affirming care’ for young children of employees.
‘Our tax code should be pro-family and promote a culture of life.’
Daily Mail Australia also approached Canva for comment.
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