Netflix now offers paid maternity and paternity leave for the first year

San Francisco: Microsoft says it will offer more paid leave to new parents and increase other benefits for US employees, a day after Netflix announced generous new-parent benefits for its workers.

“Netflix’s continued success hinges on us competing for and keeping the most talented individuals in their field”, Netflix Chief Talent Officer Tawni Cranz said in the post. Experience shows people perform better at work when they’re not worrying about home.

Netflix officials said they want to support employees during changes in their lives and return to work more focused and dedicated.

But starting November 1, all 12 weeks will be paid, and mothers will receive a total of 20 weeks. Outside that, California, New Jersey and Rhode Island use a program funded by payroll taxes to provide some paid family and medical leave, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Netflix’s unlimited parental leave is the latest perk lavished onto employees of big-name tech companies as they push to attract the best talent.

In addition to eight weeks of fully paid maternity disability leave, Microsoft now gives an additional 12 weeks of parental leave, of which eight weeks are unpaid. Employees will be allowed to return and leave again if necessary and continue to earn their normal pay throughout.

The policy will apply to the first year that a child is born or adopted. In-house counsel should keep certain caveats in mind as they go about considering whether Netflix’s policy-or any major expansion of a parental leave policy-is right for them.

She says Netflix, an American company, did a very European thing when it offered employees a year off with pay. For instance, the company already allows employees to take an unlimited amount of vacation each year, as long as they get their assignments done and fulfill other requirements of their jobs.

The Netflix policy far exceeds typical leave at large U.S. corporations. In fact, the US stands alone among wealthy countries in not providing paid maternity leave. Shares in the company rose to a new high Tuesday, at $122.79, according to the New York Times.

However, tech companies are the exception in America, which is the only developed country in the world that does not have guaranteed paid paternity leave.