Yet the frustrations are rising among employees who want their companies to have their say. ONE latest report from Kotaku highlighted complaints from employees of ZeniMax Media subsidiaries Bethesda and Arkane, who call the company’s lack of response “deafening.”
A source at another major Texas-based study, which requested anonymity to be able to speak freely, tells WIRED that there is “a lot of frustration internally with communications and leaders over the lack of public statements, especially with a lot of California and Seattle- studies should be very loud and clear. ” Although the company has been willing to speak internally to employees about their concerns, the source continues that it is “extremely vigilant about lawsuits from the Texas government and says as little as possible. Offline talk is that they focus on material to protect current employees rather than make public statements. “
For Texas, abortion laws are unclear as to who can be punished and how. Private citizens have power to sue anyone who “helps and promotes” an abortion. The uncertainty has even shut down efforts as abortion funds as the organizers fear legal punishment. It is hard to see that even well-positioned, well-funded companies are afraid of the power of officials, the source continued. “For every Gearbox or Arkane or Id, there are dozens of indie or freelance developer teams that have few or none of the same resources,” they say.
Some developers choose to help employees leave affected states altogether. In May, after the statement that would eventually topple Roe v. Wade leaked, Certain Affinity founder and CEO Max Hoberman told the staff that the company would help move them to a safer state or province where the company operates. Its headquarters are located in Texas. “These are difficult areas to navigate, as state governments may at some point decide that by supporting vulnerable employees in their times of need, we are falling on the wrong side of the law,” Hoberman said in his statement to employees. “As frightening and disturbing as it is, it is a reality and a risk that we must carefully navigate.”
The source of the large Texas-based study says that even if anyone mentions Roe v. Wade has been left out of official communication, the company has been open about relocation options. But leaving Texas or any other affected state is, at best, an imperfect solution, another example of the class divide already plaguing abortion. “‘Just go to a safe state’ is inherently a privileged attitude that solves the problem for only a fraction of those affected,” they say.
As government officials seek to extend anti-abortion legislation, it can certainly cease to be a possibility. There are only so many safe havens to escape to, especially when access to health care is linked to a job.