Expanding Access to Overlooked Reproductive Benefits in Organizations: Highlighting Fertility Treatment and Abortion Accessibility

Abstract

Organizational discussions of reproductive benefits are often focused on maternity care and parental leave, neglecting broader reproductive issues including abortion access and fertility treatment. This call-to-action chapter argues that comprehensive reproductive benefit coverage is essential for safeguarding employee wellbeing and ensuring organizational effectiveness in the United States. As reproductive care often coincides with prime working years within an employee’s lifetime, organizations play a pivotal role in either facilitating or obstructing access through healthcare coverage, workplace flexibility, and supportive climates. The article provides targeted recommendations across three domains. First, policymakers should enact legislation ensuring universal, affordable access to reproductive care, decoupling health access from employer dependency. Second, organizational leaders should expand benefits, normalize reproductive health support, and foster climates that empower employees to access care without stigma. Third, organizational scholars should prioritize research at the intersection of reproductive care, work, and organizational functioning, addressing critical gaps in understanding. The article concludes that accessible, affordable reproductive care is not only a public health necessity but also a cornerstone of workforce productivity and equity.