After a barrage of unflattering press regarding their difficult work conditions and lackluster parental leave, Amazon has decided to revamp their parental leave policy. Which, of course, is both good for business and good for parents.
The gist is that Amazon workers are now eligible for up to 20 weeks of parental leave for birth moms, and six weeks for new parents regardless of gender. The company also mentioned they will implement a “leave share” program, which would help employees share their leave time with non-employees, which is primarily aimed for employees with spouses who work for employers who do not provide paid parental leave. They also announced a “ramp back” program designed to help new parents return to work at reduced hours for eight weeks.
READ: Don’t We All Need Better Work-Life Balance, Regardless of Our Genitalia?
For the first time, all parents, regardless of gender, will be able to take off time during the first few weeks of their baby being home. Of course, this announcement couldn’t have come at a better time, with their Black Friday deals starting three weeks early. Clearly, they want to motivate their customers.
Whatever the intention, the decision is definitely a step in the right direction. We hope these new policies will be maintained within a healthy, supportive environment where employees feel secure taking off the time they need, knowing there won’t be any consequences as a result.
