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Everyone’s path to parenthood looks different, and for many women, that journey includes fertility treatments like IVF and egg freezing. With a single round of IVF costing as much as $20,000, many families are accepting side hustles and part-time jobs to access fertility benefits.
As conversations around infertility become less stigmatized, more women are speaking up about their experience working multiple jobs to have the family that they want. If you are looking into a part-time job for fertility benefits, you aren’t alone!
Why do companies offer fertility benefits?
To paraphrase — it’s the economy, duh. In a recent podcast, Wall Street Journal reporter and economist Harriet Torrey explained that the historically low unemployment rate and tight labor market have pushed many companies to offer fertility benefits to attract and retain talented working-age employees. In 2022, 61% of companies reported offering some form of fertility coverage for employees, and many HR leaders believe that this number will only increase as the job market changes and fertility treatments become less stigmatized.
Fertility benefits are a win-win situation for employers and employees. Fertility treatments are often prohibitively expensive for families, and these benefits attract talented employees in a competitive job market. One study found that 88% of employees would consider switching jobs for fertility benefits, and employees with access to fertility benefits report higher morale and loyalty to their employers.
What fertility benefits are offered?
Although it depends on your employer and insurance, the most commonly covered fertility benefits include fertility preservation treatments like egg harvesting and embryo freezing, genetic testing, IUI and IVF treatment, diagnostic testing, and counseling for families experiencing infertility.
For procedures like IVF, most companies offer fertility benefits with a lifetime dollar amount cap or a limit on the number of rounds covered, according to the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. 3 rounds of IVF is the median number of rounds covered, but this, again, depends on your employer and coverage.
If your employer doesn’t offer fertility benefits, experts recommend asking about your options with your employer. Carrot Fertility founder Tammy Sun suggests talking to HR about your options or working with an Employee Resource Group (ERG) to advocate for coverage. “Voicing your needs is a powerful act that can often have a cascading effect on the rest of the organization, encourage others to speak up, and push senior leaders to make changes to company policies,” she said to Harvard Business Review.
What companies offer fertility benefits for part-time employees?
40% of employers offered some form of fertility coverage in 2023, including large employers like Walmart, IBM, and Adobe. Not everyone offers fertility benefits for part-time employees, but below are a few companies known to offer benefits to part-time employees:
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Starbucks: One of the most popular options for part-time jobs, Starbucks will reimburse part-time employees (and their eligible partners) up to $40,000 for IUI and IVF treatment and medication, or surrogate and adoption costs. Starbucks’ fertility benefits are available after roughly five months of part-time work.
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Amazon: Amazon offers fertility benefits, including genetic testing, IVF treatment, and egg freezing, to benefits-eligible part-time employees through their partnership with Progyny. Amazon’s benefits are available on day one of employment, and almost 30,000 Amazon employees have used their fertility benefits to date!
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Tractor Supply Company: Tractor Supply Company, a– you guessed it– tractor supply company headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, offers fertility benefits through Progyny to part-time employees after one year of working at least 10 hours per week.
Are there any communities for women on the same fertility journey as me?
If you are considering a part-time job or a side hustle to access fertility benefits, you aren’t alone. This is why Rescripted has partnered with CCRM Fertility to highlight employers who are making sure their employees are #FertilityCovered. Whether you’re currently open to work or simply want to keep your options open on your fertility journey, visit #FertilityCovered here. And don’t forget to share it with your friends!
Are you or your partner considering a part-time job for fertility benefits, or know someone who is? Do you know of any other companies that offer benefits for part-time employees? Let us know in the comments below. 👇
Erin Pettis is a content strategist, freelance writer, and women’s health advocate. She lives in New York City and holds an MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business.