Earlier this month, Netflix made national news with the announcement that they will be offering up to a full year of paid paternity leave for their employees. This includes both new moms AND dads at the company, who will continue to earn their full salary and other benefits.
Only eligible to certain, more valued employees (the DVD division is not included), the move has been critiqued as a PR stunt, and some are debating its fairness. However, while not everyone at the company is included in the new policy, it shows the efforts of a corporation to bring more of a work and life balance to fruition, in what is the only advanced country in the world that does not have a paid maternity leave policy that is guaranteed to everyone.
While every company is different, their paternal leave policy is left up to them to determine. The actions of Netflix are progressive, and not every corporation may follow suite, but their corporate peers are taking notice and making strides to catch up. Just after Netflix’s announcement, Microsoft increased its own maternity leave policy, and shortly thereafter Amazon did so as well.
“Netflix’s continued success hinges on us competing for and keeping the most talented individuals in their field” says Tawni Cranz in the company’s official blog post. “Experience shows people perform better at work when they’re not worrying about home. This new policy, combined with our unlimited time off, allows employees to be supported during the changes in their lives and return to work more focused and dedicated.”
Only time will tell how this will affect Netflix, as well as other companies, but many are already lauding the company for its efforts.
