The company’s healthcare plans will now cover abortion under certain circumstances: when there is a health risk to the mother, rape or incest, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage or lack of fetal viability, according to an internal memo sent Friday by Donna Morris, Walmart’s Chief People Officer.
Morris said the company made the changes after “listening to our associates about what’s important to them,” adding that “we strive to provide quality, competitive and accessible health coverage that supports you and your families.”
The company did not clarify whether the new benefits would be available to all 1.6 million US employees or only some workers. Many of Walmart’s staff work part-time and are not eligible for all benefits.
Additionally, in a significant expansion of benefits, Walmart is launching coverage for fertility services like in-vitro fertilization (IVF), intrauterine insemination (IUI) and egg cryopreservation. It’s also adding benefits for surrogacy and increasing adoption support fourfold to $20,000.
