Regarding the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade

Dear @principal.preferredName

As you are probably aware, the Supreme Court has published their decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the US federal law protecting the right to abortion. This political decision may leave some of you feeling unsettled, sad or anxious.

We felt it is important to reinforce that, if you need support, it’s there for you! You can access psychological services through our [add link and name of relevant policy] support policies. 

Note to HR Admin you may want to consider the following: We will also expand our policies to ensure that access to fundamental reproductive health care will be available to all our people irrespective of their situation.  

Background information

We’ve provided some context, especially for our non-US based people. 

Abortion is a common type of reproductive health care. 1 in 4 American women will have an abortion before they are 45. Despite the political controversy and rhetoric, 80% of Americans support abortion and at least 60% support its legality in all or most cases.

Now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned, abortion will likely be accessible dependent on state or for those who can afford it, provided they can travel between states where legislation is supportive. But many people can’t - particularly those with lower income. Those facing significant financial and logistical barriers may struggle in accessing this essential health care.

Overturning Roe v Wade may also cause a broader sense of anxiety because of the concern about what this action may indicate - the stripping of other civil rights from federal constitutional legislation. The loss of federal protection of civil rights and control over these rights being passed to individual US states means geographical location could determine fundamental human rights.

Additional support

Note to HR Admin you may want to consider the following:

Our company will make anyone who needs access to reproductive health care, but for any reason can’t afford it at the time, eligible to receive financial support from @company.name.

We will make it possible to receive the funds anonymously, no questions asked. An external party will be briefed to treat any such request confidentially.    

And don’t forget that we will have support services available if you feel unsettled about this news.

On discussing this with each other

Of course we can share our feelings about this with our colleagues - we’re doing that in this note now.

But be mindful to protect your own personal boundaries. 

When discussing polarizing political topics with colleagues, remember that not everyone may agree with your opinion. 

So, ask yourself if you have enough emotional bandwidth to have such a discussion. If not - it’s probably better to discuss with a professional through our support services or with another colleague who may share your views.  

If you do discuss the topics with a person who disagrees with your views, remember to stay respectful. Hostility or harassment is not accepted. 

If a conversation gets heated and you feel that the conversation is no longer safe for you to engage in or is not productive, you should end or pause the conversation. 

So, let’s all agree that we will respect each other's boundaries: If someone wants to end the conversation or does not want to engage in the conversation - it’s best for both parties to let it be.    

More information on managing conflicting views is in this HBR article.