Expert: Generous Netflix Parental Leave Policy Not Likely To Spread
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Netflix is offering its 2,000 employees the most generous parental leave ever reported, but a Chicago labor expert said other worker shouldn't expect their companies to offer something similar anytime soon.
The new Netflix policy offers unlimited paid leave for mothers and fathers for the first year after a childbirth or adoption.
Workplace expert John Challenger – CEO of outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas – said Silicon Valley companies like Netflix are competing against each other for the best and brightest employees, so they're raising the stakes.
"Facebook was offering four months of paid leave to both new mothers and fathers, as well as $4,000 for each new child born or adopted; but it also subsidizes daycare, programs for adoption, egg freezing, and surrogate parenting and sperm donation programs," he said.
Challenger said he doesn't expect widespread adoption of similar policies. He said most companies cannot afford the lavish perks employers like Netflix, Facebook, and Google offer.
"It's always the most successful companies – and right now that seems to be the most successful companies coming out of Silicon Valley – who see themselves as pushing the boundaries," he said.
Such companies are competing for the kind of employees who would value such a perk.
"This generation, I think, very much sees itself as wanting work-life balance."