Workers behind D&D, Magic are speaking up about their company’s stance on abortion rights

polygon.com:

Some employees at Dungeons & Dragons and Magic the Gathering publisher Wizards of the Coast say they’re frustrated with owner Hasbro’s response to Friday’s Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, calling it “lackluster” and asking the company to reconsider its stance.

Multiple gaming companies have expressed support for the right to choose, some of which said they’re expanding healthcare coverage to support workers that must travel to receive abortion care. Since Friday, game studios such as Bethesda Softworks, Insomniac Games, and Electronic Arts have issued public statements in support of reproductive rights. Others, such as Grand Theft Auto publisher Take-Two Interactive, have declined to comment on the ruling. Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast have similarly declined to comment publicly on social media channels; instead, Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks and chief people officer Najuma Atkinson sent a statement to staff on Monday.

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In it, Hasbro executives wrote that the company has a “long history” of access to healthcare benefits, “including reproductive healthcare and other critical media services, regardless of where you live in the United States.” It also mentions “new enhanced travel benefits,” but does not explain further. Cocks and Atkinson also pointed workers toward the company’s mental health benefits, which include the Headspace app.

Wizards of the Coast employees are upset, however, because some of the language avoids disavowing the Supreme Court decision and asks employees to respect both sides.

“We know there are many perspectives over what is at stake with the overturn of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court announced last week,” Cocks and Atkinson wrote. “It is important we continue to respect