Recent research has shown fertility and family planning are at the top of mind for many in the workforce, with nearly 70 per cent of millennials who’ve said they would change jobs to ensure they have fertility coverage.
In an effort to address the needs of future and current employees, more and more businesses are launching and expanding their family benefit plans. According to results from a 2023 survey, 63 per cent of HR professionals said they plan to increase family health benefits within the next few years.
While Reddit’s online communities are known to offer support and tips with other users about a variety of topics, the company also offers a wide array of resources and programs for their employees from across the world to support them in their parenthood journey.
As VP of Global Talent Acquisition at Reddit, Carla H. McIntosh is responsible for bolstering the company’s recruitment strategies, such as robust family benefit plans, to continue expanding Reddit’s global workforce.
First off, what exactly are employer-sponsored ‘family planning benefits’ in the workplace?
CM: Family planning benefits are a variety of employer offerings that support employees in their journey into parenthood. These benefits may range from childcare support to fertility treatments, and everything in between.
What do you think are the most important benefits employers should offer when it comes to family planning?
CM: Employers should be conscious of the different ways people create a family. There is not a “one-size-fits-all” approach, so employers should offer resources and programs that are inclusive and suit a variety of needs. At Reddit, for example, we offer robust family planning including fertility treatments and adoption assistance as well as 16 weeks of paid parental leave for all employees including both genders and birth and non-birth parents. In addition, we offer 8.5 weeks of paid leave for loss of pregnancy (for the employee or their partner), child care subsidies, and flexible work arrangements. Each of these elements addresses different aspects of the family planning journey and can significantly ease the transition for new parents or existing growing families.
How does offering these benefits help employers to attract and retain the best talent?
CM: We strive to ensure all of our employees are welcomed as the individuals that they are and that Reddit remains one of the most human places to work. Offering these benefits helps attract and retain the best talent by demonstrating a commitment to supporting our employees outside of their day-to-day at Reddit. Over the years, we’ve heard from our employees that one of their main reasons for joining Reddit was because of the extensive benefits that we offer, especially those that revolve around family planning and supporting the individual outside of their work life.
What are the main challenges associated with rolling out family planning benefits that employers should be aware of?
CM: In addition to considering the full spectrum of needs throughout the parenthood journey, the main challenges can include cost implications, managing unique circumstances, and ensuring equitable access. At Reddit, we’re intentional when building our benefits packages and plan carefully to consider benefits usage, costs, and employee feedback. Also, since we have employees located around the world, it’s also important that we’re thoughtful of how we support and are inclusive of those in different regions.
Are there any creative ways that employers can help make family planning benefits more accessible or attractive to prospective talent, including new and expecting parents?
CM: Think outside of the box! While providing essential benefits like policy leave or childcare support is important, it never hurts to expand offerings to support employees and their families in unconventional ways. Employers should consider partnering with benefits providers or organizations that have licensed professionals and specialists who can provide next-level support and guidance through parenting workshops or mentorship. At Reddit, we offer employees 24/7 access to mental health self-care apps and 12 paid therapy sessions, which can help navigate issues like stress, grief counseling, and relationship conflicts. Additionally, parenthood can impact more than just the employee, so our family planning benefits are inclusive of spouses and domestic partners.
What sorts of family planning benefits does Reddit offer to its employees? What has been their response?
CM: We’re proud to offer a number of resources to our employee parents and families at any stage. In addition to what I’ve already shared, we offer $25,000 (USD) during an employee’s tenure at Reddit to support a variety of family planning efforts including paid parental leave, fertility and adoption assistance, and egg freezing, just to name a few. We also partner with family support platforms to provide personalized guidance and 1:1 sessions with experts for all employees and their journey to becoming a parent. We’ve continued to receive positive feedback from our employees, and they’re empowered to take advantage of our benefits however is best suited to their needs.
What advice would you give to business leaders and HR professionals looking to implement a comprehensive set of family planning benefits for their employees?
CM: My advice is to listen to your employees. At Reddit, we analyze utilization rates and solicit feedback via surveys about how our employees use their benefits. This gives us the opportunity to listen to what’s working and what’s not and adjust our benefits accordingly. We take the time to understand their needs and concerns and design benefits around those while considering flexibility, inclusivity, and support. It’s also important to communicate these benefits effectively, ensuring your employees are aware and can take full advantage of them. Finally, remember that family planning benefits are not a one-size-fits-all solution – be prepared to adapt and evolve your offerings based on feedback and changing needs.