Today, IBM let its employees know it’s expanding the benefits to its working parents.
In a blog, it announce the plan Meeting the Needs of 21st Century Parenting.
We’ve written about some of the benefits IBM employees who are moms, including those in Austin, receive. Specifically, its innovative program to ship breast milk home when an nursing mother who is an employee has to travel for work.
Carlie Bower sits in one of the individual rooms in a Mother’s Room at IBM. Nicole Villalpando/American-Statesman
Now, IBM is reimbursing employees up to $50,000 to cover services for each child with mental, physical or developmental disabilities. This $50,000 is in addition to what insurance already might cover.
This is huge. Having a child with different abilities is incredibly expensive. It can financially ruin families. Even with amazing insurance, parents are still spending tens of thousands of dollars a year in out-of-pocket expenses on co-pays, services not covered by insurance, equipment, parking, medications and more.
IBM also expanded many of its other parent-friendly programs, including:
- Increased paid parental leave to up to 20 weeks (from 14 weeks);
- Doubled paid parental leave for IBM dads, partners and adoptive parents to 12 weeks.
- Parents can choose to take parental leave any time during the first year after the birth or adoption;
- Reimburse up to $20,000 for eligible adoption or surrogacy expenses including medical costs associated with surrogate birth mothers.
IBM also offers expectant mother parking spots, child care and after-school center discounts, child care centers at its locations, and flexible scheduling for parents who need to pick children up after school, go to children’s events or appointments.
How is your company helping you be a better parent?
