Top Indiana Employers Voice Concern Over State's New Near-Total Abortion Ban

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Top Indiana Employers Voice Concern Over State’s New Near-Total Abortion Ban
8/8/2022 by Linda Burstyn and Roxy Szal


Abortion rights activists in the Indiana Senate during a special session to ban abortion rights in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. Gov. Holcomb signed the bill into law. (Jeremy Hogan / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images)

In Indiana, a bill banning nearly all abortions became law on Friday after passing through the state Senate and being signed by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb. The law, Senate Bill 1, takes effect on Sep. 15. S.B. 1 makes Indiana the first state to pass an abortion restriction after Roe v. Wade‘s overturn and ninth state to ban abortion outright, alongside Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Texas.

In response to the extreme legislation, some of the state’s largest employers are raising concerns about the harmful effects of the law—both on the health of current and future residents of Indiana, and on the companies’ abilities to recruit top talent. Drug company Eli Lilly employs over 10,000 Hoosiers alone. “Given this new law,” the company said in a statement, “we will be forced to plan for more employment growth outside our home state.” The company has offered to cover travel costs for employees seeking reproductive services out of state, but admitted this provision “may not be enough for some current and potential employees.” Soon after, a spokesman for Cummins, a Columbus-based engine company employing 10,000, voiced similar concern over S.B. 1. A statement expressed “deep concern” with how the law impacts employees of the company and impedes its ability to attract and retain a diverse workforce in Indiana. “Cummins believes that women should have the right to make reproductive healthcare decisions as a matter of gender equity, ensuring that women have the same opportunity as others to participate fully in the workforce and that our workforce is diverse,” the company said in its statement. “This law is contrary to this goal and we oppose it.”

Rachel Simon, an Indianapolis-based philanthropist, testified against S.B. 1 on the floor of the state Senate on July 25. Rachel’s father Herbert Simon is the owner of the Indiana Pacers; he and his brother Melvin Simon founded Simon Property Group, the largest owner of shopping centers in the state. “Denying individuals full bodily autonomy is a dehumanizing, archaic, oppressive, invasion of privacy,” she said. “The ramifications of this bill will be far-reaching.” Simon spoke of her family’s “deep gratitude for this state, its people and its potential.” She continued, “S.B. 1 will result in irreparable damage to Indiana’s already suffering reputation. It will greatly hinder our ability to recruit, retain and attract new talent across all sectors, from the arts to tech to sports. We can expect businesses and individuals to relocate, divest and boycott.”

(The remainder of this piece is adapted from an original reported piece from Linda Burstyn, “Bad Business,” featured in the Summer 2022 issue of Ms. Become a member today to read more reporting like this in print and through our app.)

Attacks on Abortion Are ‘Bad for Business’

“The attack on abortion is bad for business,” said Bruce Freed, president of the Center for Political Accountability, an organization that tries to bring transparency to corporate political spending. “It has a chilling effect on the overall economy and society—an economy and society that need to be healthy in order for the companies to grow and thrive.” If all state-level abortion restrictions were eliminated, there would be an estimated over a half a million more women aged 15 to 44 would be in the labor force, according to a report conducted by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR). IWPR also estimates that state economies will lose $105 billion per year under abortion bans. And the states that stand to lose the most are the ones that have recently put bans in place: Texas will lose $14.6 billion per year, Florida will lose $6.6 billion, and Missouri will lose $5.3 billion. “Abortion restrictions are going to depress economic growth and GDP [gross domestic product] by keeping women out of the workforce during their most productive years,” said Shelley Alpern, director of corporate engagement at Rhia Ventures, a socially conscious investment firm.

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https://msmagazine.com/2022/08/08/indiana-eli-lilly-business-abortion-ban-women-workers/