Netflix announces unlimited family leave

[annieblah]

Netflix announced Tuesday that it will give new parents "unlimited" time off during the first year after a child is born or adopted.

In a statement, the video streaming giant said it will keep paying employees during their time off, and that they can return "part-time, full-time, or return and then go back out as needed."

"We want employees to have the flexibility and confidence to balance the needs of their growing families without worrying about work or finances," the statement added.

Netflix said the move is also designed to help employees avoid the "headache" of applying for disability pay, which employees at many companies are required to do as part of the parental leave process.

Last year, a White House report revealed that just 39% of employees said they were able to take some type of paid family leave for the birth of a child. The report argued that there was a need for greater access to paid leave in the U.S., noting that "even when unpaid leave is available, workers may be unable or unwilling to forego lost wages."

President Obama last year also described paid parental leave as a "national economic priority."

Netflix already does not track employees' vacation time, though company executives have resisted calling it an "unlimited" policy.

[lg28]

Awesome!!

[nsl]

Frankly, maternity leave aside, it would have been a huge relief not to have to angst over how I was possibly going to take days off for well-baby appointments, sick visits, daycare call-outs because of random fevers, etc... when my employer made me use all of my PTO for the year during my 12 FMLA weeks. Parental leave right after the birth isn't the only reason why that first year can be professionally stressful.  Way to go, Netflix.

[nsuhomer]

Fantastic!

[gault]

The only thing I question is potentially taking away std pay. You only have so much pto to use for a year off, potentially.

[aurora]

Aug 4, 2015 20:25:17 GMT -5 gault said:

The only thing I question is potentially taking away std pay. You only have so much pto to use for a year off, potentially.

But it sounds like Netflix will pay their regular salary for any time off during that first year, so the PTO limit wouldn't apply in this case (per my understanding from the article posted).

[meltoine]

Aug 4, 2015 20:25:17 GMT -5 gault said:

The only thing I question is potentially taking away std pay. You only have so much pto to use for a year off, potentially.

annieblah Avatar
Aug 4, 2015 19:43:13 GMT -5 annieblah said:


Netflix already does not track employees' vacation time, though company executives have resisted calling it an "unlimited" policy.

[NewOrleans]

:Y: :Y: :Y:

[penguingrrl]

That's amazing. It's nice to see a company understanding that work is important, but so is your family. For the few who even get paid leave or can afford to take unpaid, it usually means they return to an empty bank of time off with a baby, who will need time off for well baby visits pretty frequently in addition to random colds and other bugs kids are prone to.

[gault]

Aug 4, 2015 20:28:26 GMT -5 aurora said:

Aug 4, 2015 20:25:17 GMT -5 gault said:

The only thing I question is potentially taking away std pay. You only have so much pto to use for a year off, potentially.

But it sounds like Netflix will pay their regular salary for any time off during that first year, so the PTO limit wouldn't apply in this case (per my understanding from the article posted).

How did I miss the most important thing?

[chedifuen]

Damn, that is amazing!

based on the headline, I thought they were going to offer free netflix to customer during their maternity leave.

[jln]

I have a friend that works there. She loves it and is treated very well. It's a great company to work for.

[pescalita]

This is great, really. It's good to see them making the "stand". IME, when there's enough cash and growth to go around (which is usually the case in this valley), tech companies epitomize the kind of long-term thinking, human resource-valuing behavior like this. Keeping the right people does more for them than the payroll expense.

But. These are not people who were having trouble making doctors appointments anyways. Our culture is built off Netflix's, and absolutely no one is keeping track of your doctors appointments and sick days - except you, and anyone who can't get what they need from you while you're out. I stayed home today with my sick kids, I didn't even mention it to my boss (he's on vacation), and I left a note on my desk. It's not "free"; I'm responsible for having my work backed up, and I stress a lot about the perception. So I don't actually think this is going to change a whole lot substantively at Netflix, financially or culturally. But it's a good stand to make all the same.

But what I really came in to say is that these are not the people that need your free ML. This is the free BFing classes at the upper middle class hospital. It's not the audience that needs it. Tech workers have privilege to spare. Maybe there's a handful of $65k receptionists or fridge stockers, and this is an expensive place, but even outside of that, the state does over 55% salary for 12-14 weeks (tax free, so it goes a lot further).

It's a good thing. Just don't go thinking there's some poor Netflix employee out there who is suddenly saved by the goodness of Reed Hasting's heart.

[AAM2012]

I am not a parent but would love to have the flexibility to be able to take a few mental health days here and there without getting a side eye from my boss.

[derp]

Aug 4, 2015 23:10:20 GMT -5 AAM2012 said:

I am not a parent but would love to have the flexibility to be able to take a few mental health days here and there without getting a side eye from my boss.

Yes. Where is the equivalent benefit for the childless/childfree employee?

I hate that the word "childfree" gets flagged by spellcheck.

Also, it's incorrect to label this "family leave" since, as what I'm reading, this is parental leave. There is no mention of this applying to caring for a sick parent, spouse, etc.

[pescalita]

Aug 4, 2015 23:10:20 GMT -5 AAM2012 said:

I am not a parent but would love to have the flexibility to be able to take a few mental health days here and there without getting a side eye from my boss.

I guarantee Netflix employees can and do do this, parents or not.