If you’re planning on starting, or expanding, your family, there are a million different considerations to make – not least making sure your financial ducks are in a row.
Unfortunately, unlike all other advanced nations, the US does not legally mandate paid leave for new parents, forcing employers to shoulder some of the financial burdens. For expectant parents, this means finding a company with a generous leave policy is imperative if you want to achieve peace of mind and have time to connect with your new child.
While the number of US companies offering maternity and paternity leave has actually decreased in recent years, a select few have gone against the grain by offering more generous benefits to mothers and fathers-to-be. If you’re thinking about welcoming a new arrival, we’ve rounded up seven companies with generous parental leave policies that give you more time to focus on your number one priority.
Paternal Leave in the US
Parental leave is a gender-neutral employee benefit that allows male and female workers to take time off work to care for their new child. Although mothers traditionally bear most of the child-caring responsibilities, more men than ever are choosing to stay at home as gendered roles continue to be challenged at work and in the domestic space.
Despite this shifting landscape, the US has failed to follow the lead of other advanced countries by federally mandating paid leave to new parents.
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This is a symptom of the country’s conservative approach to workplace benefits, with the US also trailing behind European countries when it comes to enshrining menopausal leave, generous paid leave, and flexible working policies into law.
There are exceptions, however. Several US states including California, Colorado, New York, and Washington have all enacted laws requiring employers to grant employees paid family leave. But even within these states the amount of paid leave guaranteed to employees is limited, making finding a company with a generous parental leave package a top priority for soon-to-be mothers and fathers.
Which US Companies Offer The Best Paid Parental Leave?
Planning to welcome a new arrival? Here are some of the best places to work if you’re starting a family:
1. Netflix
- Number of paid weeks: 52
Nexflix is an exemplary case study when it comes to generous parental leave. The streaming giant offers new parents a staggering 52 weeks of paid leave – granting employees even more time off to care for their children than countries like Norway and Germany.
This perk is eligible for both genders and is even extended to adoptive parents. But despite workers being entitled to almost a full year of paid leave, the company reports that most new parents take anywhere between four to eight months.
This is just one of many liberal perks Netflix gives to employees, with the company also generating a buzz for its open-handed mental health day policy, which lets workers take time off work whenever they need to unplug and recharge.
2. KPMG
- Number of paid weeks: 52
Matching Netflix’s impressive offering, global consultancy powerhouse KPMG offers 52 weeks of maternity leave regardless of how long you’ve worked at the company. However, for partners and non-birthing parents, the company offers two weeks of paid paternity leave, and 16 weeks of company-shared parental pay – a flexible arrangement that allows mothers to share the time off with their co-parent.
In addition to its basic parental package, KPMG offers its workforce paid leave for miscarriages, stillbirths, and neonatal deaths, and grants employees paid time off to attend fertility appointments.
3. Lululemon
- Number of paid weeks: 26
US apparel company Lululemon is also leading the pack when it comes to flexible parental policies. This year the retailer expanded its benefits by offering three to six months of maternity or paternity leave to employees who work just 24 hours a week or more.
The company explained the new benefit is aimed at boosting retention and morale for employees at all levels, from in-store associates to senior leaders. Staff that have stayed loyal to the company get a slightly better deal, however, with six months of leave being given to employees who have been on the payroll for five years or longer, and three months being given to employees who have worked there for over two years.
4. Spotify
- Number of paid weeks: 26
Steaming service Shopify matches Lululemon’s generous offering by granting 26 weeks of paid parental leave to all full-time employees. The company also does things a little bit differently by letting its workforce take parental leave up until their third birthday.
Unlike most other companies, Spotify also makes the perk eligible for new employees, providing a lifeline to soon-to-be parents who haven’t invested years into the company. In a blog post about its parental leave policy, Spotify attributes this perk to its Swedish-inspired culture that stresses the importance of a healthy work-family balance.
5. Etsy
- Number of paid weeks: 26
Online marketplace Etsy believes strong families equal strong business, and that’s why they allow all new parents to take up to 26 weeks of paid leave. The benefit is open to any parent regardless of their family circumstances, including mothers, fathers, and parents pursuing adoption.
The flexible, gender-blind policy was spearheaded by Etsy CEO Chad Dickerson who adopted his own child in 2013, and believed taking his full five weeks of leave was the “most important way” he could have spent his time.
6. Atlassian
- Number of paid weeks: 26
Following in the footsteps of most other companies on this list, an Australian-American software company provides 26 weeks of paid leave for parents who have given birth to a child. However, the benefit isn’t quite as inclusive as the likes of Shopify and Etsy, as the company gives non-birthing parents a slightly more limited 20 weeks of paid leave.
Atlassian doesn’t just support new parents with flexible leave policies, though. Employees are also eligible for free parenting resources, and childcare services, alongside a raft of extra perks like wellness classes, therapy sessions, and learning and development opportunities.
7. Accenture
- Number of paid weeks: 18
Global professional services company Accenture also believes that a generous parental leave policy is a winning strategy for business success. As part of its mission to foster a family-friendly workplace, the US firm grants 18 weeks of paid parental leave to new parents of all gender identities.
Accenture also launched a new Assisted Reproductive Treatment Leave program which gives up to 37.5 hours of paid leave to workers who are trying to conceive through ART like IVF. What’s more, the company’s parental leave policy extends to parents who tragically lost a child through miscarriage or stillbirth, with 5 days of compassionate leave being given to eligible employees.
