Less than 24 hours after Netflix announced its expanded parental leave policy, Microsoft said it would extend its parental leave from November 1.
Previously, Microsoft offered eight weeks of paid parental leave and four weeks of unpaid leave. The new policy would provide paid leave for 12 weeks.
Mothers and fathers can now also take up to two additional weeks of leave before the birth of their child “to manage the physical impact that often comes with late pregnancy and to prepare for the upcoming birth,” the company announced in a blog post.
Netflix Inc is offering up to a year of paid maternity and paternity leave for employees to care for a newborn or newly adopted child, significantly raising the bar for parental benefits in corporate America.
In a blog post, the video streaming company said parents could take off as much time as they wanted during the first year after a child's birth or adoption.
Parents can return to work part-time, full-time or return and then go back to work as needed, the company said.
The change, which the company called an "unlimited" leave, will eliminate the need for employees to request state or disability pay because they will continue to be paid their regular salary.
"Netflix's continued success hinges on us competing for and keeping the most talented individuals in their field," Tawni Cranz, Netflix's Chief Talent Officer, said in the post. "Experience shows people perform better at work when they're not worrying about home."
The Netflix policy far exceeds typical such leave at large U.S. corporations. Compared to other developed countries, the United States lags behind in benefits it offers expecting parents.
The U.S. Family and Medical Leave Act entitles employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid time off a year in the event of a birth, adoption or the arrival of a foster child.
Last month the U.S. Navy tripled the paid time off offered to new mothers in the Navy or Marine Corps, from six weeks to 18 weeks.
