Netflix adds gender reassignment surgery to list of staff benefits
The streaming service is among the list of American companies that are adding gender reassignment surgery to their list of staff benefits.
In an effort to prove their inclusivity prowess, employers such as Netflix and social media giant Facebook say they are now offering medical procedures such as gender reassignment and hormone therapy.
The announcement follows a recent human rights survey that revealed that over 415 of the 780 business quizzed on their LGBT friendliness now covered many related operations – more than double the number since 2012.
However, James Baron – of the Yale School of Management – warned that these benefits could be part a smokescreen by the businesses to imply that they are LGBT inclusive, as very few employees would actually use the benefits.
“It becomes a bit of a rat race as to who can out-commit whom with diversity initiatives,” he told HR Grapevine.
“Committing to this form of equality allows a company to put another arrow in its quiver without terribly profound cost implications.”
A report by the University of California supports this theory.
The recent study found that just one employee in every ten to twenty thousand would take advantage of the gender assignment “perk” each year – the average cost of the operation is around £20,000.
The trend in companies promoting trans benefits comes after the White House recently employed their first ever transgender worker in the role of Recruitment Director.
The White House announced Raffi Freedman-Gurspan’s appointment last month.
Ms Freedman-Gurspan will work as an “outreach and recruitment director for presidential personnel” in the Office of Personnel.
President Obama has promised to put race-related murders and hate crimes at the forefront of his agenda after he was urged to investigate the worrying increase in trans-related killings.
