How to reconcile maternity and professional life? US giants Apple and Facebook have found a solution that chills more than one: freeze the eggs employees. The two companies offer their employees financial support to the tune of 20,000 dollars (15,781 euros) to finance the collection of oocytes and to cover the costs of storing the eggs, which amount to an average of 500 dollars per year (394 euros). ).
According to NBC news, which reveals the information, Facebook has already integrated this option into the health coverage of its employees. Apple should follow suit next January.
This strategy, unique to large American companies, aims to attract more women to the ranks of employees. The idea is to help financially freeze the eggs so that the employee can postpone her pregnancy and focus on her career as a first step. A temporary maternity freeze since the employee could therefore use her oocytes later. This method is seen by its supporters as the means to resolve the dilemma posed by many women torn between their career plan and their desire for a child. In the United States, 20% of women become mothers of their first child by the age of 35 on average.
An ethical problem
But this offer of egg freezing by companies is not to everyone’s liking. In the camp of the American detractors, one affirms on the contrary that this technique is a disguised way to privilege the professional life at the expense of the family life.
In France, the American social debate takes an ethical turn by raising the question of the intrusion into the private lives of employees. The Minister of Health Marisol Touraine, said she was “concerned to hear that this project is carried by companies. Beware of these projects which are difficult and have ethical consequences. It is not for employers to take hold of them. of these subjects, “she said, quoted by Le Figaro.
One thing is certain, French employees are not at risk of being offered egg freezing for the moment.
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