In a move that has surprised the nation, Netflix® has recently announced that they will be providing unlimited maternity leave to promote and foster a “freedom and responsibility” culture. Netflix will allow new parents to take as much time off, as they need, for the first year of their newborn's life.
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Get Your Report Now!In a blog post, Tawni Cranz, chief talent officer for Netflix, said, "We want employees to have the flexibility and confidence to balance the needs of their growing families without worrying about work or finances. Parents can return part-time, full-time, or return and then go back out as needed. We’ll just keep paying them normally, eliminating the headache of switching to state or disability pay. Each employee gets to figure out what’s best for them and their family, and then works with their managers for coverage during their absences."
Another corporate giant is following Netflix's lead. Microsoft® will also be offering 8 weeks of fully paid maternity disability leave for new mothers, plus 12 weeks of parental leave for all parents of new children, of which four are paid and eight unpaid. The parental leave practice will take effect November 1, 2015.
Kathleen Hogan, executive vice president of Human Resources for Microsoft announced in a blog post that the company will be enhancing the paid parental leave to 12 weeks, paid at 100 percent, for all mothers and fathers of new children. For birth mothers, this is in addition to the 8 weeks of maternity disability leave they currently receive, paid at 100 percent, enabling them to now take a total of 20 weeks of fully paid leave if they choose.
Additionally, it will offer birth mothers an expanded opportunity to use short-term disability leave during the 2 weeks prior to their scheduled due date to manage the physical impact that often comes with late pregnancy and to prepare for the upcoming birth.
Microsoft will offer flexibility for when eligible parents can take leave. Eligible parents will now have the option to take their parental leave either in one continuous 12-week period or split into two periods. These parents will also have the option to phase back into work on a half-time basis.
On top of the maternity leave, Microsoft has already begun requestingthat its suppliers offer 15 days of regular paid leave to anyone who performs work for Microsoft.
Who will follow in Netflix and Microsoft's footsteps? Stay tuned for more developments in what seems to be a growing trend in maternity and parental leave.