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When it comes to family planning, the majority of people (63%) say that financial hurdles are their biggest obstacle, according to an April 2023 report from fertility service provider Carrot. And as companies compete in the global race to attract talent, Amazon is expanding its employees’ access to virtual family planning and women’s healthcare professionals.
Where in the world? As of this month, Amazon employees across parts of Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa have access to Maven Clinic, a virtual women’s health clinic, according to a recent press release. These benefits were previously only available to the ecommerce giant’s employees in the US and Canada.
Through the clinic, they can access healthcare professionals, including fertility doctors, gynecologists, and mental health providers, in 35 languages. Employees can also get free support to help build their families, including guidance on family-planning options near them.
Satellite view. Family planning is a near-universal experience, and employers should expand benefits, Christian Hicks, SVP of employer growth at Maven Clinic, told HR Brew. As the popularity of fertility benefits has increased in the US, international companies have started having conversations about expanding their offerings, he said.
“Across the world, even in countries that have really robust public health coverage, family building journeys are underserved,” he said. “Navigating these journeys can be more difficult outside of the US, oftentimes, than it is in the US. And there really is this unmet need for both some financial support but also for just assisting with that navigation and assisting with the mental journey that it takes to build a family.”