While the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has serious implications in the political and societal spheres, it will have at least as much of an effect on America’s workforce and employers across the country. Here’s what you need to know about the ramifications of this landmark decision on your business and its employees.
How will employers be impacted when employees are facing these situations?
Employees who face an unplanned pregnancy may be overwhelmed or confused about their choices. These stressors can lead to loss of productivity, unexpected days off, low morale, and higher employee turnover.
Termination is not the only option people consider when faced with an unplanned pregnancy. Employees may be confused and overwhelmed by their choices: parenting, terminating the pregnancy, or choosing a birth plan for adoption. Any of these choices can be difficult and impact their job performance, resulting in stress and a lack of productivity.
Vesta’s experience working with over 7,000 families across the United States makes us uniquely qualified to provide these types of resources and coaching to your employees.
Which employees could the overturn of Roe v. Wade impact?
The Dobbs decision will directly impact employees considering adoption and surrogacy, but it also has the potential to affect any employee within your organization, including:
- Employees who are pregnant
- Employees who experience an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy of their own
- Employees who experience an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy of their loved one
- Employees in a high-risk pregnancy where the health of the unborn child/carrier are at great risk:
- Employee is pregnant/carrying their own baby
- Employee is carrying a surrogate pregnancy
- Employee’s child is being carried by a surrogate
- Employee has a spouse/partner/loved one faced with this situation
How can Vesta help your employees?
Vesta is uniquely positioned to support employees who are considering adoption and surrogacy. Our deep support surrounding the Dobbs Decision is one of the most valuable components of the Vesta program.
Vesta provides one-on-one personalized coaching and an on-demand video library, guiding employees to resources to make educated choices based on their needs.
- We can help employees navigate becoming a parent through adoption, surrogacy, and foster care.
- We provide resources for birth mothers who are determining a parenting plan for their unborn child.
- We help employees decide whether they would be able to become a surrogate to help another family.
Vesta coaches can connect employees to attorneys who are well-versed in states where the medical options an employee is considering may pose a personal legal conundrum. Our extensive network of highly reputable resources includes:
- Adoption providers
- Adoption and ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) attorneys
- Surrogacy agencies
- Professional support for birth parents and families
What topics does Vesta’s inclusive on-demand video library cover?
Vesta’s online portal provides employees with access to an in-depth, on-demand video library. When your employee registers, they can view the videos, utilize the resources, and connect with a coach. Topics include Adoption, Foster Care, and Assisted Reproduction Technology topics such as Surrogacy and Egg Donor — choosing a path and a provider, how to pay for your journey, with information on grants, loans, and fundraising.
- Guidance for potential adoptive parents
- Budgeting and planning
- Domestic, international & kinship adoption
- Understanding how to pursue foster care
- Guidance for parents pursuing surrogacy
- Budgeting for your journey
- Guidance for surrogates
- Compensation and reimbursable expenses
- Contractual components based on core values
What should employers consider in a post-Roe v. Wade world?
Faced with an overturned abortion law, employers should be prepared for a range of reactions in their workplace. Some employees may feel relieved and empowered, while others may feel disappointed or even angry at the prospect of no longer being able to make decisions about what is best for them during a pregnancy.
If you are unsure how your employees will react, it is important to have an open dialogue with them and ask about any needs or concerns they may have. Regardless of how your employees feel about an overturned abortion law, you need to support them during and after these situations.
Many people will be affected by the Dobbs decision, and employers and their workforce will certainly feel the effects for years to come. In light of this decision, employers must be conscious of their responsibilities to ensure that their employees are fully aware of what resources are available if they experience any post-decision pregnancy-related complications or other effects. Creating an environment that values diverse viewpoints so that each employee feels valued, respected, and safe is the first step toward an inclusive workplace.
To learn more about how Vesta for Families can assist your employees, contact us today.
