EA Announces Travel Health Benefits in Wake of Roe Decision (June 24, 2022)

ChrisReid

Super Soaker Collector / Administrator
Today has been exhausting, and we know many of you are exhausted too. We'll be back with some more upbeat Wing Commander stories tomorrow, but for now, here's the topically relevant angle on current events: the owner of the WC franchise, Electronic Arts, has announced tepid support for abortion rights in the US. Although they didn't come out and use the word "abortion" in their public-facing statement, they have internally communicated to employees that they "will soon offer expanded travel health benefits" to employees seeking basic healthcare that they will only be able to access out of state. They join a number of other game developers and tech companies who have announced similar measures today. With the competitiveness of the industry at a fever pitch these days, these types of benefits will be critical incentives in the future.

Anyhow, take care of yourselves out there. Hit us up on Discord if you need someone to talk to.

As EA’s executive team, we want to reiterate our unwavering support for you, our employees. Today, the U.S. Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade regarding abortion in the United States. We know this issue matters, generating a range of emotions for you and your loved ones, whether you’re based in the U.S. or abroad.

Your health and well-being are our top priority. We are working closely with our U.S. healthcare provider, Cigna, and will soon offer expanded travel health benefits, for eligible U.S. employees and their eligible dependents. Our aim is to provide the support and services that empower you and your eligible dependents to get the care needed to be the best, most authentic version of yourself at work and in other areas of your life.



pic.twitter.com/dSqDQhJOR6— Electronic Arts (@EA) June 24, 2022[/quote]


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Original update published on June 24, 2022
 
The only bright side of all this turmoil, to be honest, is that it's casting a big spotlight on privacy and how things like your location information are collected, stored, and distributed by third parties because of what's happening and various laws. Location providers like smartphone manufacturers (Apple, Google, others), cellular companies, and other such things will be under scrutiny for how the data is obtained, while data brokers will probably get identified and examined on how they sell the data they collect and store and make available to people who buy it and law enforcement.

It's going to be a balance - because people will want to erase their location information or block it entirely for reasons, but that also means entities like law enforcement might not have that data anymore to be used against well, crimes, either new ones created in wake of the ruling, or existing crimes. Because unfortunately, it can be used both ways.

Also it's important to know if the health care travel plans will reveal anything - because a lot of the new laws make it such that if you know the reason for this "medical travel", and it's of a procedure covered by the law, then it must be reported.

And I'm being vague not because I don't want to say what it is, but given the fluid nature of what's going on, the list of banned procedures will only grow, it always does.

The only clear thing that's apparent is big changes are afoot and it's going to hit everyone in some way. From how you use your phone, to personal devices like a smart watch or fitness tracker, to tracking tags, to location privacy laws (GPS trackers are still a thing), to the whole collection, storage, distribution and sale of personal information, and law enforcement, the legal system, etc will all be impacted.
 
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