Wondering if anyone has experience with successfully implementing changes to their company's parental leave policy.

Anonymous

January 16,2024 at 9:37PM UTC

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Wondering if anyone has experience with successfully implementing changes to their company's parental leave policy.

I work for a tech company based outside the US with a small group of employees (less than 50) in the US. The HR parental leave policy I've been referencing misstated the company's maternity leave policy and come to find out it's less time off (went from 12 weeks to 6), albeit paid (which I realize is still very generous).

I've thought about how I can help implement change to make our company on par with competitors and partners (offering 3-4 months paid mat leave) in the market and more appealing to potential employees, especially women given our male dominated industry. Does anyone have any advice or metrics used to implement changes? Thanks in advance!

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AnonymousJanuary 16,2024 at 10:27PM UTC
I suggest enlisting your colleagues to make the case to your company.
In addition to citing market standard for your industry in the U.S., you might want to research maternity leave given at your company’s non-U.S. location/s. If maternity leave outside the U.S. is more generous than the current U.S. leave, that is another possible reason to change the U.S. policy.
Shannon Glasgow WinfieldJanuary 17,2024 at 1:27PM UTC
I’ve seen a baseline amount tied to initial employment then additional weeks added for additional years of employment.
Regina BrownJanuary 17,2024 at 6:27PM UTC
My suggestion would be to find out which or your company's competitors and/or partners are offering 3-4 months paid maternity leave and show whomever is in charge.
AnonymousJanuary 18,2024 at 1:36AM UTC
I am not aware of any 3-4 month paid maternity leave in the US. There is FMLA which for employers with 50+ must allow up 12 weeks and hold your job for certain circumstances, but it is not paid
AnonymousJanuary 18,2024 at 2:04PM UTC
3-4 month paid maternity leave is not unheard of. It's defined by individual organizations, not federally. You are only referencing FMLA which is not the info she appears to be looking for.
AnonymousJanuary 18,2024 at 2:03PM UTC
I don't have specific advice for you, but it is doable. Do your research (okay, that is advice) first. What's the norm in your industry. What are companies leading the charge doing? I put a parental leave plan in place at former employer maybe almost 10 years ago, I looked to see what the trends where, what were best practices both in that specific industry and in general. It will take some digging but that info is out there. Work directly with HR on this (you don't work with HR on it, you are not likely to be successful).