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Facebook, Apple: LADIES! Why not FREEZE your EGGS? It's on the company!

No biological clockwatching when you work in Silicon Valley

It's no secret that Silicon Valley is a workplace that favours youth. Not just because the young have new ideas and perspectives, but also because 20-something geeks who work with all their friends have no problem putting in 60 hours a week cracking out code.

Now, it seems that some of the biggest names in the business are offering another perk that will let workers put off the burdens of adulthood so they can drone on creating the next big thing for just a bit longer.

According to a report from NBC News, both Facebook and Apple have begun offering human egg freezing as part of their employee benefits package. The plans would allow employees to have their eggs put on ice and used for conception at a later date.

Apple said the benefit was part of a family medical benefits package it offers workers.

"We continue to expand our benefits for women, with a new extended maternity leave policy, along with cyropreservation and egg storage as part of our extensive support for infertility treatments," the iGiant said in a statement to The Register.

"We also offer an Adoption Assistance program, where Apple reimburses eligible expenses associated with the legal adoption of a child."

The coverage would have a practical impact for workers as it would allow employees more flexibility in deciding when they want to have children and how they want to manage their careers.

On the more cynical side, it could also benefit the employer as female employees would be under less pressure to have children earlier in their lives and as such could put in a few more years of long hours and heavy productivity for their company before starting a family.

This sort of mindset has been reflected in other companies. AOL boss Tim Armstrong has faced criticism on multiple occasions for his treatment of women who had the audacity to get pregnant while working for his company. ®

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