Netflix Is Now Offering Employees Unlimited Maternity Leave. Um, Amazing?

New parents working for Netflix in the US are now entitled to ‘unlimited’ maternity and paternity leave...

New parents working for Netflix in the US are now entitled to ‘unlimited’ maternity and paternity leave.

The company’s generous offer applies just to the first year of their child’s life (in case you were having visions of a totally chuffed employee at home taking care of their 35 year-old) but they are also giving workers complete flexibility when they do return to the office.

Employees will be allowed to return part-time, full-time or temporarily because, as Tawni Cranz, Netflix’s Chief Talent Officer, puts it; ‘Experience shows people perform better at work when they’re not worrying about home.’ Seems obvious really, doesn’t it.

Unlike in the UK, women in the US are only legally entitled to 12 weeks of unpaid maternity leave (if they want more, it’s classed as disability benefit - no joke) making this move even more groundbreaking.

‘We want employees to have the flexibility and confidence to balance the needs of their growing families without worrying about work or finances,’ Tawni adds in her blog post. ‘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.’

Whether these new flexible policies will lead to greater discrimination and judgement from colleagues in the workplace remains to be seen, but team Netflix seem confident that it’s a win-win for both the employees and the company.

‘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. 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.’