An «employee perk» for women at major Silicon Valley tech firms is hitting the finance industry. U.S. giant Blackrock is the first to move.
Blackrock is offering its female employees reimbursement for freezing and storing their eggs as part of family planning, according to U.K. trade publication «Financial News» (behind paywall). The New York-based asset manager will reimburse staff for up to $20,000 of treatment, the outlet reported.
The move represents finance copying big technology firms like Facebook, Apple, and Google, all which roughly two years ago began offering similar so-called benefits to staff. The move proved controversial: women's rights advocates said the move could be interpreted as corporations effectively bribing their female employees off for postponing motherhood.
Recruiting Perk
Blackrock takes a different view: «We know your home life is at the heart of what’s important to you — and what you work for,» the asset manager told staff, «FN» reported. «That’s why we strive to offer the support you need to help your family flourish.»
Japanese financial conglomerate Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group reportedly grants its staff paid time off for egg-freezing. The move is part of banking's attempt to entice more women back, as well as compete on equal terms in recruiting vs tech firms.
