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How to implement family-inclusive benefits for LGBTQ+ workers
Summary
This article discusses how companies can create family-inclusive benefits for LGBTQ+ workers, such as changing language from "maternity leave" to "parental leave." It also recommends evaluating benefits like parental leave, medical and mental health benefits, and considering the additional stress that LGBTQ+ families often face when trying to build families. It suggests creating an LGBTQ+ employee resource group, or a specific focus group, in order to reevaluate benefits and to determine what would be helpful. Additionally, it suggests adding access to behavioral health specialists, nurse advocates, network navigation support, and informational video libraries.
Q&As
What are family-inclusive benefits and why are they important for LGBTQ+ workers?
Family-inclusive benefits are benefits that cover all families, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. They are important for LGBTQ+ workers because they ensure that all families have access to the same benefits, regardless of their identity.
How can employers create equitable family-inclusive benefits?
Employers can create equitable family-inclusive benefits by consulting with their LGBTQ+ employee resource group or creating a specific focus group to reevaluate benefits. They should also consider the additional stress that LGBTQ+ families often face when trying to build families.
What changes have been made to the definition of “family” in California?
The California Family Rights Act grants workers the right to take up to 12 weeks of leave to take care of a family member. Starting on January 1, “family member” did not have to be a direct blood relative, which breaks out of the heteronormative definition of family.
How can employers best support LGBTQ+ families in their employee benefits packages?
Employers can best support LGBTQ+ families in their employee benefits packages by providing access to behavioral health specialists, nurse advocates, network navigation support, and informational video libraries.
What types of additional benefits may be beneficial for LGBTQ+ families?
Additional benefits that may be beneficial for LGBTQ+ families include coverage for legal costs associated with building a family, additional access to behavioral health specialists, nurse advocates, network navigation support, and informational video libraries.
AI Comments
👍 This article covers an important topic of making sure family-inclusive benefits for LGBTQ+ workers cover everyone, regardless of orientation. It contains useful advice on how to create equitable benefits and navigate the extra complexities faced by these families.
👎 While this article provides some good advice, it does not go into enough detail on how to ensure all family-inclusive benefits are truly equitable for all types of families. More specifics would be helpful.
AI Discussion
Me: It's about how companies can implement family-inclusive benefits for LGBTQ+ workers. It talks about how some companies haven't been paying attention to the systemic barriers that exist within their benefits for LGBTQ+ workers and how they can create equitable benefits.
Friend: That's fascinating. It sounds like a really important step in creating a more inclusive workplace.
Me: Absolutely! It's a big step forward in terms of creating an equitable and inclusive workplace. It's also important for employers to consider the additional stress that LGBTQ+ families face when trying to build families due to added cost and complexity. So, employers should provide additional access to resources like behavioral health specialists and nurse advocates.
Action items
- Research and review current family-inclusive benefits to ensure they are equitable for all employees.
- Create a focus group of LGBTQ+ employees to discuss and evaluate family-inclusive benefits.
- Develop a plan to provide additional access to behavioral health specialists, nurse advocates, network navigation support, and informational video libraries for LGBTQ+ families.
Technical terms
- DEI
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
- LGBTQ+
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and other sexual and gender identities.
- Cis gendered
- A person whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth.
- Heteronormative
- A worldview that promotes heterosexuality as the normal or preferred sexual orientation.
- FMLA
- Family and Medical Leave Act.
- HR Dive
- A website that provides news and insights on human resources topics.