How important are family building benefits to Canadian employees?

A recent survey by Sun Life found that over 50% of Canadian employees said that family building benefits are important to them – a need that the insurer hopes it can meet with its new offering.

Family building can refer to processes like adoption and in-vitro fertilization – processes that can be challenging and expensive for many Canadians, Sun Life has noted. To help with this, the insurer earlier this year had launched its Family Building Program, which includes coverage for fertility, surrogacy, and adoption.

The program has been recently expanded to now include coverage for:

Procedures and drugs related to a plan member’s fertility journey.
Lab services, testing, procedures and other surrogate medical expenses.
Prenatal fitness classes, vitamins and other expenses related to surrogate wellness.
Legal and agency fees and other expenses related to the adoption process.

Sun Life hopes its new offering can help employees with any financial strain that could hamper their family building plans.

“Our Family Building Benefits recognize and support that Canadians build families in different ways. It’s important that we support our Clients and address their unique needs,” said Sun Life senior vice president of group benefits Marie-Chantal Côté. “These benefits help organizations put their employees first and make a real difference in the workplace.”

“It’s fantastic to be able to support employees at work and in their personal lives and watch their families grow and flourish,” added PwC Canada benefits, pension & wellbeing leader Lisa Rosen. “Offering a comprehensive and inclusive benefits package that reflects the diverse needs of our people and their families, is a competitive advantage that helps us retain and attract top talent.”