US business treads cautious line after Supreme Court abortion ruling

The US Supreme Court’s reversal of the constitutional right to an abortion has handed an instant challenge to business leaders, caught between their fear of reprisals for taking sides on a polarising topic and their employees’ dependence on company-issued health insurance.

“The ultimate result is chaos for employers that typically operate in multiple states,” given the expectation that many states will now pass sweeping abortion bans, said Jen Stark, co-director of the centre for business and social justice at BSR, which advises businesses on how to navigate their social responsibilities.

Few executives reacted publicly to Friday’s news, despite having had weeks to prepare after the draft decision to overturn the 1973 Roe vs Wade ruling was leaked to Politico this spring.