Top Companies With Best Parental Leave

Discovering which companies provide the best parental leave is crucial as not every employer is generous with time off and compensation when it comes to supporting employees who have a new child. Among the largest public companies in the US, only a few disclose their paid parental leave policies.

Netflix, Etsy, Lululemon, Dropbox, and Hewlett-Packard are the leading companies in terms of parental leave, each offering a remarkable six months or more. In this article, we will delve into the specifics of these companies’ paternal leave policies and compare them to other options available in the market.

Why Is Parental Leave Important?

Before we explore the parental leave offerings of different companies, it’s essential to understand why parental leave is crucial for employees. Even individuals who are not planning to start a family want the assurance of being supported when that time comes.

Research suggests that approximately 1 in 4 young people decided against applying for a job due to inadequate parental support. Additionally, 1 in 5 individuals between 18 and 34 years old have quit their jobs due to insufficient parental leave.

Paid parental leave can significantly impact families in various ways. It has been shown to improve the physical and mental health outcomes for both parents and children, reduce the risk of re-hospitalization, lower instances of injuries.

For the best baby care its recommended to have the parental leave or at least work from home.

How Much Parental Leave Are You Entitled To?

Despite the evident benefits for parents and children, the United States does not require companies to offer substantial maternity leave, and paternity leave is not legally mandated at all.

Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), employers with over 50 employees at a single location must offer up to 12 weeks of unpaid, protected leave for mothers of newborn or newly adopted children. However, eligibility requires at least 12 months of employment with the company and a minimum of 1,250 hours worked within the last year.

These are only the federal legal requirements, and some states have expanded laws. Moreover, individual companies are free to offer as much leave as they desire, but few choose to be generous. Statistics indicate that over 75% of fathers are back at work within a week of having a new child, and approximately 30% of mothers do not take any form of maternity leave.

As for paid leave, only around 40% of employers provide paid leave to mothers or fathers, forcing many parents to make difficult financial decisions when they welcome a new life into the world.

Which Companies Offer the Best Parental Leave?

Determining which companies are the most generous with their leave options can be challenging since many employers choose not to disclose their specific leave of absence policies, despite the appeal it may have for job applicants. However, there are notable brands among the large public companies that proudly offer substantial parental leave.

Let’s explore the impressive leave policies of five renowned brands that provide parents with over six months of leave:

• Netflix: This colossal streaming business offers the most paid parental leave among all Russell 1000 companies, providing 52 weeks for both mothers and fathers. They also support families through surrogacy, adoption, and fertility assistance.
• Etsy: Known as the go-to website for hand-crafted and creative products, Etsy aligns its parental leave policy with its gender-positive company ethos. They allow new parents of any gender to take 26 weeks of paid leave, which can be split over a two-year period. Etsy also offers financial aid for adoption and surrogacy costs.
• Lululemon: This prominent clothing brand grants employees at all levels within the company up to six months of paid leave. Both mothers and fathers are entitled to the same amount of time off—a rarity among US companies.
• Dropbox: As one of the largest file storage and security companies globally, Dropbox offers employees worldwide up to 24 weeks of paid parental leave. Their policy is inclusive, covering parents of all types. Additionally, they facilitate a smooth transition back to work by providing part-time options.
• Hewlett-Packard (HP): Known as HP, this multinational technology company ranks second in its industry for parental leave policy. HP offers 24 weeks of paid leave for both mothers and fathers. They also allow the option to work part-time for up to a year and a half after the birth of a child to ease the return to the office.

The companies offering the best parental leave options go beyond the federally-mandated unpaid maternity cover required in the US. Unfortunately, few companies demonstrate generosity in this regard, especially concerning equal parental leave options for both mothers and fathers.

Notable large companies providing exceptional support to new parents include Netflix, Etsy, Lululemon, Dropbox, and Hewlett-Packard. These companies offer at least six months of leave, regardless of the parent’s gender.