American Express (NYSE:AXP) today announced that the company’s
U.S.-based regular full-time and part-time employees will be eligible
for 20 weeks of paid parental leave. In addition, the company will be
increasing its employee benefits for reproductive services, surrogacy,
adoption and lactation.
The new paid parental leave policy covers women and men welcoming a
child through birth, adoption and surrogacy. In addition to the 20 weeks
of paid parental leave, birthing mothers will be eligible to receive
paid, medically-necessary leave related to the birth of their child,
which is generally, six to eight additional weeks.
To help ensure employees feel supported from the moment they decide to
become parents through their return to work and beyond, American Express
is also increasing a variety of family benefits. Beginning January 1,
2017, U.S.-based employees will be eligible for:
-
Reimbursement of expenses up to $35,000 to help with the cost of an
adoption or surrogacy event (up to a maximum of two events per
employee);
-
A lifetime maximum benefit of $35,000 for reproductive and fertility
treatments, available under the company’s health plans;
-
Free 24-hour access to board-certified lactation consultants; and
-
Free breast-milk shipping while traveling on company business.
“American Express remains deeply committed to our working families and
an inclusive culture that supports all of our employees,” says Kevin
Cox, Chief Human Resources Officer, American Express. “These significant
enhancements to our benefits reflect a continued investment in the
overall well-being of our employees and their families.”
Additionally, beginning in January, expectant parents will have access
to a parent concierge, who will help employees understand and navigate
parental leave and the wide array of parental resources and programs
available to them.
Over the years, American Express has supported working parents in the
U.S. by offering them a holistic suite of family benefits, ranging from
prenatal planning to the opportunity to apply for college scholarships.
Beyond the benefit changes announced today, American Express provides a
comprehensive package of free, family-friendly benefits to help parents
manage work and caregiving responsibilities. Some benefits include:
-
Personal Concierge Services, programs providing employees with a
variety of discounts and access to a group of researchers, ready and
able to help with their to-do lists;
-
Back-Up Care, a program that provides employees with up to 20 days,
per dependent, per calendar year, of quality in-home or center-based
care;
-
Healthy Babies, a program for expectant mothers, providing them with a
wide-range of healthcare resources and incentives; and
-
Flexible work arrangements, allowing employees to work directly with
their leaders to determine the best work arrangement for their role.
Through these benefits changes and existing offerings, American Express
provides one of the most robust suites of parental benefits among
financial services companies operating in the U.S. People interested in
learning more about careers at American Express in the U.S. can visit: https://jobs.americanexpress.com/us.
About American Express
American Express is a global services company, providing customers with
access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build
business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com,
and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress,
foursquare.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/company/american-express,
twitter.com/americanexpress,
and youtube.com/americanexpress.
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Amelia Woltering
212-640-7034
amelia.t.woltering@aexp.com