With the pregnancy benefit, employees usually end up paying next to nothing. Director of Media Relations Phil de Haan first made Thompson aware of the benefit while it was still in the planning stage. The Thompsons applied for the benefit in July after the finalization of Lukas' adoption. The benefit also comes swiftly. Bellows was not sure if the benefit would be an incentive for adoption, but it will allow for that option.
Bellows expects about four to five employees taking advantage of the benefit per year.
Associate Professor of Biology Elizabeth Howell and her husband Charles will be taking advantage of the benefit in the near future. Howell will leave for China on October 6 to finalize the adoption process for young Georgia Li-Dan Howell. The baby girl born last January is named after Charles' mother. This will be their first child. Bethany Christian Services, the adoption agency the Howells are using, recommended that they go through China.