Health Benefits -- If Only This Would Start a Trend

[smc]

Google Announces Health Benefits for US Transgender Employees

Tuesday, November 22, 2011
4:53pm by Christopher Santorella, GLAAD's Media Field Strategy Intern

Google announced Friday that it will significantly increase health coverage for its U.S. transgender employees. The company, with its longstanding history of supporting equality, recognizes the need for broad-based coverage that includes all employees regardless of gender identity or expression.

This extraordinary move, effective immediately, more than doubles transgender health care benefits from $35,000 to $75,000, and makes Google a model for corporate responsibility in terms of transgender health care. Along with this increase in dollar amount, the new health plan covers surgery, including facial feminization for transgender women and pectoral implants for transgender men and more, and other transition-related medical services or treatments.

Sarah Stuart, program manager of Google’s global diversity and inclusion program, explains the climate at Google: “We're always looking for new ways to create a more inclusive culture and support our employees. The decision to improve our benefits for our LGBT employees started as a grassroots effort driven by the Gayglers [an affectionate term referring to LGBT employee groups within the company], who worked closely with our benefits team.”

This progressive action comes as no surprise to those familiar with Google’s dedication to diversity and equality. In a recent company blog on the Transgender Day of Remembrance, Google wrote: “We’re fortunate here at Google, where there are LGB and T people at all levels of the company, thanks to enlightened hiring and promotion practices that set aside sexual orientation or gender presentation. Ultimately, Google fosters a workplace where everyone has the ability to be themselves at work. For transgender employees in particular, that means everything.”

Unfortunately, not all companies recognize and celebrate the diversity of its employees. According to the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index (http://www.hrc.org/files/assets/reso...Index_2011.pdf) for 2011 (the new index for 2012 will be released in the next coming weeks), only 18% of the major companies reported offered health benefit to transgender employees for surgical procedures. Only 27% offer compensation for medical visits and lab procedures related to hormone therapy. Many corporate organizations continue to fail to recognize the transgender community in terms of medical need.

Because of these discrepancies in health care inclusion, we must be certain that while we applaud Google on its progressive efforts, we hope all companies will follow suit. Health benefits are needed by all employees in our workforce. GLAAD urges media to highlight the need for transgender- inclusive health benefits when covering this story. We congratulate Google for its recent move, and we encourage other like-minded companies to include the transgender community in its health policies and to remember the healthcare disparities faced by the transgender community.

[merelypink]

thumbs up to google

[tslust]

Given the job market and the overall attitude of management; if I were to start to transition (which I'm seriously thinking about), I'd be fired.

Originally Posted by merelypink

thumbs up to google

cosign

[DeaconBlues]

I echo MerelyPink's post! Thumbs up for Google!

If I had the skillset to work there, I would send in my job application today.

[sosed]

Every way start with the first step and all steps are the same important. Good news.

[Alana TG]

Originally Posted by merelypink

thumbs up to google

Originally Posted by DeaconBlues

If I had the skillset to work there, I would send in my job application today.

I agree with both of those sentiments.

Google sounds like an awesome company to work for.

[shadows]

Sometimes all it takes is one company to get the ball rolling. Hopefully this will be the catalyst that sparks other companies to follow suit.

[tslust]

At times, I can be very pessimistic.

Originally Posted by shadows

Sometimes all it takes is one company to get the ball rolling. Hopefully this will be the catalyst that sparks other companies to follow suit.

I really don't see that happening. In my own job, I see management trying to bully people around all the time. Unless either the job market improves or Federal and/or State laws are passed (I don't see that happening any time soon.), other companies aren't going to follow suit.

Originally Posted by shadows

Sometimes all it takes is one company to get the ball rolling. Hopefully this will be the catalyst that sparks other companies to follow suit.

Well google wasn't the first, I know MicroSoft had all that long ago. And I don't even know if they were the first company. Though I'm happy to see that google is on board. Just wish I could get hired at either company.

Originally Posted by tslust

At times, I can be very pessimistic.
I really don't see that happening. In my own job, I see management trying to bully people around all the time. Unless either the job market improves or Federal and/or State laws are passed (I don't see that happening any time soon.), other companies aren't going to follow suit.

Federal and many state laws were passed. Last year a federal law stated that all insurance companies must provide transgender care coverage.

[tslust]

Originally Posted by ThirdEyeGirl

Federal and many state laws were passed. Last year a federal law stated that all insurance companies must provide transgender care coverage.

There's still no Federal laws preventing workplace discrimination based on gender identity. And my state doesn't have any such law either. In my opinion, having a job is more important than being insured.

Originally Posted by tslust

There's still no Federal laws preventing workplace discrimination based on gender identity. And my state doesn't have any such law either. In my opinion, having a job is more important than being insured.

No, but there is a federal law being proposed that prevents discrimination based on gender identity or gender expression. You can read more about it and help from this site. http://www.nclrights.org/site/PageSe...gislation_enda

Also if you want to know if your state has non-discrimination protection for gender identity or expression. Check out this site. http://www.nclrights.org/site/PageSe...gislation_enda

[shadows]

Originally Posted by tslust

At times, I can be very pessimistic.
I really don't see that happening. In my own job, I see management trying to bully people around all the time. Unless either the job market improves or Federal and/or State laws are passed (I don't see that happening any time soon.), other companies aren't going to follow suit.

Considering how the world looks in general, I can see your being pessimistic. However, things have improved from how they were before. I wish there was more of a change, and that the changes would work quicker, but I think that it's only a matter of time before there are wide-spread changes. At least I hope so...

[shadows]

Originally Posted by ThirdEyeGirl

Well google wasn't the first, I know MicroSoft had all that long ago. And I don't even know if they were the first company. Though I'm happy to see that google is on board. Just wish I could get hired at either company.

I wish that I had the skill-set that they look for at Google or Microsoft. Both jobs would be very secure, and well-paying at that. Alas, the only thing I can do with Google is, well, google things.

Originally Posted by shadows

I wish that I had the skill-set that they look for at Google or Microsoft. Both jobs would be very secure, and well-paying at that. Alas, the only thing I can do with Google is, well, google things.

Same here. :/
Though I may be able to get in with microsoft for game testing. I'll have to look into that.