Starbucks has revealed it has expanded its benefits when it comes to fertility treatment
The coffee chain has recently included surrogacy and intrauterine insemination in its benefits reimbursement scheme, in which employees can claim back funds if not covered by their health insurance.
Employees can receive a $10,000 reimbursement from Starbucks per qualifying surrogacy event and up to a lifetime maximum of $30,000.
The company has also upped its lifetime maximum reimbursements for other fertility treatments under its medical plans, which include a jump from $15,000 to $25,000 and $5,000 to $10,000 for prescription drugs.
The benefits are available for all full and part-time employees who work more than 20 hours a week.
A company spokesman told Benefit News: “We made this change to assist partners whose needs may not be met by their healthcare insurance company, such as same-gender couples looking to become parents or individuals seeking fertility services.”
The new benefits will be rolled out this month
The company will also expand initiatives into mental health and emotional first aid, something that is very relevant as it is World Mental Health Day on Thursday, October 10.
It recently held training sessions for 12,000 managers focusing on the mental wellbeing of its employees.
Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson said in a statement that this is a long term commitment to breaking the taboos that surround mental health.
He said: “That was just the first step in a new long-term initiative to take a stand, help break the stigma around mental health, and get even more partners and their loved ones the support they need.”
Many global companies are now offering fertility treatments within their medical plans, one of the latest is US investment bank, Goldman Sachs.
Source: IVFbabble.com