Fertility and family-planning benefits remain top of mind for many organizations as they evaluate benefit packages for the year ahead. The advantages of these benefits include attracting and retaining key talent; saving on health care costs; matching benefits to diversity, equity and inclusion goals; and simply supporting the overall well-being of their workforce.
The International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans has been tracking fertility and family-forming benefits over the past eight years. According to the Foundation’s Employee Benefits Survey: 2024 Report, 42% of U.S. organizations currently offer fertility benefits.
Overall, organizations are increasing their fertility-related benefit offerings:
| Benefit Type | 2024 | 2022 | 2020 | 2018 | 2016 |
| Overall Fertility Benefits | 42% | 40% | 30% | n/a | n/a |
| Fertility Medications | 32% | 28% | 24% | 14% | 8% |
| In Vitro Fertilization | 32% | 30% | 24% | 17% | 13% |
| Genetic Testing to Determine Issue | 19% | 16% | 12% | 11% | n/a |
| Non-IVF Treatments | 19% | 17% | 11% | 11% | 6% |
| Egg Harvesting/ Freezing Services | 16% | 14% | 10% | 6% | 2% |
When I spoke with Julie Stich, CEBS, Vice President of Content at the International Foundation, she said that we are continuing to see a steady increase in fertility and family-forming benefits because of its high value by talent regardless of gender identity or relationship status. She noted that these benefits are a positive way to create a more inclusive workplace.
For families looking to adopt, paid/unpaid leave and financial assistance are benefit offerings trending up over the past few years:
| Year | Offered Paid Adoption Leave | Offered Unpaid Adoption Leave | Offered Financial Assistance With Adoption |
| 2014 | 16% | 26% | 12% |
| 2016 | 19% | 24% | 17% |
| 2018 | 21% | 26% | 17% |
| 2020 | 27% | 25% | 17% |
| 2022 | 34% | 22% | 19% |
| 2024 | 37% | 26% | 20% |
Stich also said that if an employee is struggling with infertility, adoption delays or the related expenses, their work may suffer in the form of productivity loss, absenteeism or presenteeism. Offering family-planning benefits can alleviate those stresses while supporting mental and financial well-being.
The increasing number of plan sponsors offering family-forming benefits indicates that they are a highly-valued benefit by employees. They are also a valuable way for employers to build community and show their care and support for employees and their families, while offering a strong attraction and retention benefit, commented Stich.
Employee Benefits Survey: 2024 Results is the ninth comprehensive benefits benchmarking survey conducted by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. The report covers pension and retirement benefits, health care benefits, voluntary benefits, work/life benefits and more.
The full report is available at www.ifebp.org/ebs2024
