An article in The Sunday NYT last August covered the topical issue of fertility rates, which "have been dropping precipitously around the world for decades – in middle-income countries, in some low-income countries, but perhaps most markedly, in rich ones." Although not a direct response to that piece, the article in the url below shows the extent to which some companies are going in order to do their bit, while also trying to keep their employees present at work:
"Companies from Apple, Facebook and Tesla to Bain, KKR and Starbucks are offering employees fertility benefits."
Whether the move is well-intentioned or cynical, however, is up for debate:
"When Apple and Facebook began paying for employees to freeze their eggs in 2014, this generosity was met with cynicism. Critics dismissed it as another attempt at social engineering from Silicon Valley, no bastion of female-friendliness. Rather than empowering women, they feared, it would press them to delay motherhood; Apple would do better to install child-care facilities at its brand new headquarters."
I was amazed to see how far-reaching this practice has become:
"More than one in four large American companies now pay for some fertility treatment, … one in 20 covers egg-freezing. In America Bain, a consultancy, KKR, a private-equity firm, and Tesla, a carmaker, pay for unlimited IVF cycles (which can cost $100,000). … [Recently] Starbucks said it would raise its fertility cover to $25,000, including for baristas who work over 20 hours a week for more than six months. For part-timers on $12 an hour that can add up to twice their annual salary."
Apparently, firms see this as a strategic opportunity, given the nature of the U.S. healthcare system:
"Most American states still do not require insurers to cover infertility treatment. So companies use the benefits to differentiate themselves. This helps recruit and retain staff. … Firms keen to promote 'diversity and inclusion' see health plans with IVF or surrogacy as a way to attract LGBT employees."
Critics, however, point out that such policies are often adopted after a scandal of some sort and are a relatively minor plus in a general workforce that still contains a great deal of discrimination for many workers (mothers, in particular):
"Some companies … appear to adopt fertility benefits in response to harassment scandals. Under Armour, Uber and Vice added family-friendly policies, including generous fertility perks, following such controversies."
Take care
David
David Chandler
© Sage Publications, 2020
Instructor Teaching and Student Study Site: https://study.sagepub.com/chandler5e
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August 10, 2019
The Economist
Late Edition – Final
51
