As Families Transform, Leaders Expand Leave Offerings

Definitions of what constitutes a modern family unit are changing so rapidly that CEOs may have to revisit their company's parental leave offerings to attract and retain top talent, a new survey finds.

Attitudes to paternity leave, for example, are changing swiftly, according to human resources consultancy Mercer, which interviewed leaders from 1,500 companies worldwide about their leave policies.

The survey discovered that 42% of companies encouraged fathers to take at least two-to-five days off immediately following the birth of their child, while 14% said they were considering increasing the number of paternity leave days.

Whether or not fathers actually do take time off is another question, however. A report by Deloitte released in June found that more than a third of 1,000 male respondents feared that taking leave would jeopardize their position at work.

Recent laws allowing gay marriage across the U.S. and other countries such as Ireland, meanwhile, are also forcing companies to rethink their leave policies.

“42% of companies encouraged fathers to take at least two-to-five days off immediately following the birth of their child, while 14% said they were considering increasing the number of paternity leave days.”

Mercer found that more than a quarter of companies now provide adoption leave beyond what is required by law. And when asked how they handle adoption leave for same-sex couples, 87% said it’s handled in the same manner as opposite-sex couples.

“Adoption leave, like other leaves, helps employers accommodate more diverse family structures, which are now commonplace among their employee population,” said Ilya Bonic, head of Mercer’s talent business.

Other non-traditional benefits being offered by companies in the survey included parental leave for part-time employees, support programs for parents, time to recover from miscarriage and time away to care for sick or elderly relatives.

Around two-thirds of companies provided family care leave to employees to look after loved ones including children, spouses, parents, parents-in-law or siblings.

“More progressive companies are acknowledging that eldercare is as important as childcare, especially as the population ages and more working couples need to devote time to elderly family members,” Bonic said.

Tech giants such as Apple and Google dominated a recent Time magazine list of the world’s companies with the most generous parental leave policies, although non-tech companies including Bank of America, Goldman Sachs and Johnson & Johnson also scored a mention.


MORE LIKE THIS

  • Get the CEO Briefing

    Sign up today to get weekly access to the latest issues affecting CEOs in every industry
  • upcoming events

    Roundtable

    Strategic Planning Workshop

    1:00 - 5:00 pm

    We are in a period of rapid change. Customer needs, technologies, competitors and internal capabilities require companies to review and update their strategies for the new realities. In this workshop, strategy experts Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison will show you a systematic approach to strategic planning to help you refine or redefine your business strategy and approach including:

    • Learn what you need to know to develop an effective strategic plan. Put the right players on the strategic planning team.
    • Develop strategies that leverage your company’s unique position in the marketplace. Lift your management team beyond “business as usual” thought processes and activities.
    • Translate your strategies into action. Achieve your vision for success and generate superior financial results.
    • Identify exactly what you need to do now to position your company for future success.

    To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

    New York, NY: ​​​Chief Executive's Corporate Citizenship Awards 2017

    Women in Leadership Seminar and Peer Discussion

    2:00 - 5:00 pm

    Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations. 

    Limited space available.

    To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $495 will be added to your total.

    Golf Outing

    10:30 - 5:00 pm
    General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
    Sponsored by UBS

    General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.

    The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.

    To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $295 will be added to your total.