Expedia to offer transgender surgery as healthcare benefithttp://www.komonews.com/news/local/Expedia-to-offer-transgender-surgery-as-healthcare-benefit-345547952.htmlArticle from Komo News (4-Seattle) by Michelle Esteban Expedia to offer transgender surgery as healthcare benefit
BELLEVUE, Wash. - Expedia employees will soon be offered gender reassignment procedures as an employee benefit.
"We are in this competitive, talented landscape and inclusion matters in that landscape," said Expedia Communications Director Sarah Gavin.
The travel giant has 18,000 employees globally, 3,000 of which are based at the Bellevue headquarters. U.S. employees and dependents can take advantage of the new healthcare benefit.
For one of those employees, the benefit is relevant.
For nearly two years Karen DeJarnette was known to her Expedia coworkers as Rick. But last month, she transitioned to Karen.
DeJarnette says Expedia has offered behavioral health sciences and pharmacy benefits for transgender employees, but the surgery option confirms to company's commitment to be inclusive.
"Boy, it's huge, it's huge. It tells people care and I don't have to face this alone," she said.
DeJarnette thinks the spirit of the benefit will extend to all employees and help Expedia win the recruitment war for high-tech talent.
"This is really life changing to send that message your employer wants to include you in the workforce that matches who you are, that is really, really powerful," said Gavin.
