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As a part of a growing startup, I've seen firsthand how employee satisfaction is at the top of the company’s priority list.
From free office lunches (my fave: salads from Sweetgreen) to 100% covered medical/dental/vision insurance plans and more, my coworkers and I are enjoying workplace perks that extend beyond the office—mitigating stress in our personal lives.
At the heart of our company culture lies a deep commitment to supporting our employees through all of life's milestones, and that includes the journey—and consideration—of parenthood. Read on to learn more about our fertility and parental leave benefits.
$20k of fertility benefits at Viam
Discovering the benefit
Picture this: In a world where about 1 in 6 people globally are affected by infertility, imagine the relief when your workplace steps up with a fertility focused benefit.
As a thirty-something navigating the solo path, I was skeptical about egg freezing. But then, an email from Viam popped up offering $20,000 in fertility benefits, and suddenly, I couldn’t help but consider it. The future felt a whole lot more flexible.
This isn't just about planning for kids; it's about offering choices, supporting dreams, and acknowledging that sometimes life needs a backup plan. And let me tell you, the journey has been eye-opening.
Embarking on the fertility journey
For the experience, Viam partners with Spring Fertility, a state-of-the-art fertility clinic offering personalized care and advanced treatments, including IVF and egg freezing.
The overall price tag for the procedure is around $13k, plus the yearly storage fee of about $900, making it well within the $20k budget allotted in our benefits package.
My journey at Spring’s NYC office was incredibly smooth and supportive, with detailed training on medication administration and a responsive team for any urgent queries.
Thankfully, the injections were a breeze (no pain or discomfort for me) and in about two weeks, I was back for the egg retrieval procedure.
Finding connections and community
I'm not the only one at the company who's taken this leap. We’re a small but empowering crew of about five women who have embraced egg freezing. We share our experiences and insights, offering a platform for open discussions and queries about the process.
For those considering the fertility benefit, experienced mentors within the Women & Non-Binary Resource Group at Viam are available to discuss their journeys, including both the ups and downs they've encountered.
One colleague expressed gratitude for being able to prioritize what she wants now, thanks to Viam's fertility benefit enabling her egg freezing.
“Fertility preservation has been something I wanted to do for the last 5 years and with Viam's fertility benefit I was finally able to make it happen…I feel so lucky that I was able to freeze my eggs so I can spend the next few years focusing on my career and I can build a family on my own time.”
Another shared her journey through two cycles of egg freezing, highlighting initial apprehensions and the value of learning from others at Viam who had undergone the procedure.
“I’ve done two cycles of egg freezing this spring which was at first scary, overwhelming, and then confusing. I benefited so much from hearing from people at Viam who went through the process already”
Viam’s 20-week-long parental leave benefit
In addition to fertility benefits, Viam offers a generous 20 weeks of gender neutral parental leave to all employees.
I spoke with Clint Purser, Senior Mobile Software Engineer, who welcomed the new addition to his family over the Summer, and was able to test out the policy.
Did Viam’s fertility and parental benefits have any part when you were considering your offer?
Clint: "When I was thinking about changing jobs, the thought of our baby on the way weighed heavily on my mind. Some companies I got offers from offered no or very little paternity leave, while others offered a good amount, but I would only be eligible after a year of employment.
Viam’s parental benefits were the most generous and the most flexible when compared to the other companies I was considering.
It played a large part in my decision when considering my options."
How long were you at the company before taking the benefits?
Clint: I was at the company for a little over 3.5 months before taking the first part of my benefits.
I appreciated the flexibility and trust that my leaders expressed, and I felt comfortable taking the time I needed to care for my family and connect with our new baby.
What was the process like?
Clint: "The process was very easy. I communicated the due date and when I'd be expecting to start my leave with HR and my leaders well ahead of time. With their guidance, we made a plan to offload my work and communicate to the team when I'd be gone.
It took me some time to get used to being on leave. In the past, when I took leave, I was ready for a break, but having just started at Viam, I was still very excited to hit the ground running."
Was it hard for you to get back into the swing of things once your time was over?
Clint: "Coming back took a few weeks to get back into the swing of things. I appreciated that I didn't have piles of work waiting for me upon my return; my team and leaders did a good job keeping my projects moving forward, and they never reached out about work while I was on leave.
I felt I had the space and trust to ramp up and get back to work at my own pace."
How does Viam’s paternity benefits compare to other companies you have worked at?
Clint: "At previous employers, my paternity leave was just 2 weeks, way too short! And another time, 6 weeks, which, when paired with 2 weeks of unlimited PTO for a total of 8 weeks, felt like a good amount of time.
Viam’s 20 week paternity leave is by far the best benefit I've experienced.
It allows me to take the time I need when we first have the baby, and then also have some time to take later down the road to further connect and adjust as a family to having a new member."
At Viam, we prioritize work-life balance and family support, offering comprehensive benefits like fertility and parental leave. Explore these employee offerings and more through our careers page. And while you’re there, check out our current open positions to find a role that suits you.
