Hobby Lobby is the latest business to be swept up in the midst of an ideological debate, with the crafting store chain getting caught in the crosshairs of the birth control mandate argument being as the company does not feel their health benefit should be extended to cover medications of which they do not approve — namely, the so-called “morning after pill.”
A mandate in the Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare,” has sparked the debate anew as for some reason, people consider birth control to be somehow separate from other issues of which they do not approve but employees can use their health or pay packet benefits to cover — for instance, if I have a Jewish boss, can I spend some of my salary on bacon-wrapped scallops? It boggles the mind.
But when it comes to female autonomy, companies like Hobby Lobby are freaked out. Insurance infrequently covers abortion, but the post-coital method of contraception known as the morning after pill is a sticking point for many who believe the high-dose birth control pills are a very early abortion.
Putting aside the fact that abortion is not a known function of the birth control pill, Hobby Lobby has decided to fight the mandate, as their belief as a company is that regardless of science, the morning-after pill is an abortifacient, and they do not want their female employees using their healthcare benefit to pay for it.
In a teleconference with the press, David Green, founder and chief executive officer of Hobby Lobby Stores Inc, explained:
“These abortion-causing drugs go against our faith … We simply cannot abandon our religious beliefs to comply with this mandate.”
Ultimately, given the female-heavy demographic of Hobby Lobby shops, their birth control stance could hit them hard in the pocketbook. Do you believe Hobby Lobby has the right to determine how a health care benefit is applied based on their religion?
Hobby Lobby is a privately owned company. It has the right to do whatever it wants in regards to BENEFITS for their employees. They can choose to not give any benefits if they like. It is also the right of any employee to quit if they don't like it.
So you can work for a company that dictates how you conduct your life away from work? What if it tells you it believes you should have only ONE child (because that's what its religion preaches)? (Not so far-fetched, is it?) What if it says that it is immoral to drink any soft drinks? Must you comply? How about if it says that men must not engage in any sexual activity outside of marriage? Think this one through!
Jo Ann, This is (unfortunately) becoming so common… I have seen major Fortune 100 corporations "hold it against" employees because they don't volunteer outside of work (WTF?????), Practically coerce their employees in their annual "giving campaigns", give them incentives if they volunteer for disease management type programs (run by said employer) where they practically microchip you if you comply… Dang, and here I am thinking what I do in my private life is my own biz. So alarming! I have always hated being told what to do and still do!!!
They are not prohibiting their employees from using these pills, they just don't want to be forced to pay for them. There is a difference. Also, the separation of church and state is meant to allow us to follow different religious beliefs, not prevent us from following areligion.
And the rest of us have the right not to subsidize Hobby Lobby's behavior. If I don't want my money used to promote their ideas, I'll have to spend it somewhere else. Those who cannot separate their ideology from their business must expect to pay the price for imposing their views on others.
Following one's religion shouldn't dictate to others what choices they can make with their own bodies. In this case, Hobby Lobby is saying that women are second class citizens who don't need birth control and can't be trusted to make their own choices. The fact that the morning after pill doesn't cause abortion, only prevents it (if you are pregnant when you take it, you will still be pregnant) is lost on Hobby Lobby. One's belief in a god, gods or no gods shouldn't limit other people's access to healthcare. What if Hobby Lobby said it wasn't going to cover cancer treatments? People would be up in arms and Hobby Lobby would have to recant or go out of business. But because its a women's issue, its up for debate because we're all just hysterical sluts.
Following one's religion shouldn't dictate to others what choices they can make with their own bodies. In this case, Hobby Lobby is saying that women are second class citizens who don't need birth control and can't be trusted to make their own choices. The fact that the morning after pill doesn't cause abortion, only prevents it (if you are pregnant when you take it, you will still be pregnant) is lost on Hobby Lobby. One's belief in a god, gods or no gods shouldn't limit other people's access to healthcare. What if Hobby Lobby said it wasn't going to cover cancer treatments? People would be up in arms and Hobby Lobby would have to recant or go out of business. But because its a women's issue, its up for debate because we're all just hysterical sluts.
You have part of the point. Hobby Lobby doesn't have to offer benefits at all. But picking and choosing benefits such that they negatively affect one group of employees, in this case, women, is wrong. Hobby Lobby is saying that they don't give a shit about their female employees or women in general, which is sad cos the last time I was in Hobby Lobby, about 95% of the workers and the customers were women.