Working for Netflix just got better: the company is now one of the first in the world to offer staff unlimited maternity and paternity leave to welcome their new bundle of joy. As working for Netflix wasn’t already good enough!
Netflix announced today via its blog that staffers would now be able to “have the flexibility and confidence to balance the needs of their growing families” without having to worry about work.
While a long maternity/paternity leave scheme is something that a lot of Australians may take for granted, the United States doesn’t have it so lucky. It’s a country that has a shockingly bad maternity leave system.
Let John Oliver explain why that’s all bad news:
So Netflix is flipping the script.
The company’s Chief Talent Officer, Tawni Cranz, wrote:
At Netflix, we work hard to foster a “freedom and responsibility” culture that gives our employees context about our business and the freedom to make their own decisions along with the accompanying responsibility. With this in mind, today we’re introducing an unlimited leave policy for new moms and dads that allows them to take off as much time as they want during the first year after a child’s birth or adoption.
We want employees to have the flexibility and confidence to balance the needs of their growing families without worrying about work or finances. Parents can return part-time, full-time, or return and then go back out as needed. We’ll just keep paying them normally, eliminating the headache of switching to state or disability pay. Each employee gets to figure out what’s best for them and their family, and then works with their managers for coverage during their absences.
Netflix’s continued success hinges on us competing for and keeping the most talented individuals in their field. 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.
Good work, Netflix!
Baby image via Shutterstock