Elon Musk is cutting Twitter employee benefits again to save money. This time, the former richest man in the world reduced benefits that help employees with fertility treatment and adoption.
Previously Twitter employees received a lifetime allowance of up to USD 80,000 for expenses related to fertility treatment, IVF, egg and sperm freezing, donor retrieval, surrogacy, and/or child adoption fees.
But now the benefit has been cut in half to $40,000 starting January 1, 2023. This was notified to Twitter employees two days before the new year by Carrot's healthcare provider.
"Starting January 1, 2023, the maximum threshold for fertility health and family planning will be reduced to $40,000 (or local currency equivalent)," read one of the emails Twitter employees received. ).
An employee currently still working at Twitter called the sudden change "disgusting and cruel." A number of employees have either recently started or are currently undergoing medical treatment covered by Carrot, but the costs have suddenly changed.
Interestingly, most of Elon Musk's children are born through IVF or surrogacy. Five of his children from his first wife Justine Musk were born via IVF.
Likewise with his twins with Shivon Zhilis (Neuralink employee and Musk's subordinate) who were born via IVF. One of his two children with singer Grimes was born via surrogate.
In addition to IVF and adoption benefits, Musk also cut other employee benefits including transportation and meal allowances. But Twitter employees can still enjoy free coffee and snacks.
This isn't the first time Musk has eliminated Twitter's employee benefits to make hefty savings. In November, Twitter also removed benefits related to health, home internet (Wi-Fi), productivity, and team activities. Credit money or cellphone bills are also limited to USD 50.