Starting Now At Netflix: Unlimited Maternity and Paternity Leave

vivaoporto writes: Netflix announced Tuesday that, during the first year after their child's birth or adoption, employees will be able to take off however long they feel they need to. They can return on a full- or part-time basis, and even take subsequent time off later in the year if needed. Netflix will "keep paying them normally." Time comments that Netflix's policy "deserves high marks for extending leave to fathers, as well as understanding that the entire first year after childbirth can be challenging for new parents".

Comments

Unlimited for one year

[Lumpio-]

It's not really unlimited if it's limited to a year now is it. Bad title. Commendable policy though, much better than what many places offer.

Re:Unlimited for one year

[Agent0013]

The other point is that Netflix has a policy of firing people who do normal/acceptable/average work. On public radio this morning I was listening to them speak about the new policy as well as the unlimited vacation time. Here is the relevant quote.

Netflix's theory is that if you want to have incredible employees, you should treat employees like adults. And, you know, they actually put it in terms that is really almost that blunt, and that means giving your employees a lot of freedom, a lot of responsibility. And then if they fail to live up to that trust or if they fail to perform - and not just perform adequately but perform exceptionally - the company says you should get rid of them. So they make a practice of firing people. There's this legendary slide deck that the CEO, Reed Hastings, shared publically about this philosophy. And in one slide, you know, it says, like every company, we try to hire well. Unlike most companies, average performance gets a generous severance package.

So if you take your vacation, you had better be working through it or you will appear to be less exceptional than the other people there and end up without a job. In the end you will take less, or even no vacation because you need to work your ass off to stay employed with them. Not such a nice policy when viewed from that angle. Looks good in the papers though!

Re: Great thing, but can this really work?

[Traciatim]

It's the standard amount of time in Canada. There is a regular marternity leave as well as a parental leave which can be divied up between the parents as they see fit. The total time adds up to a year of leave.

Netflix does a "Norway"

[dubidub]

So, more or less how it is for everyone here in Norway.

Re: Great thing, but can this really work?

[fche]

... but the people on leave in Canada earn little compared to their normal salaries.

Re:Sure it can work

[Shadow of Eternity]

Other than that, if the government mandates employers pay for such long leaves, it will hugely penalize small companies, and prospective employment of women.

Yeah that's why small businesses don't exist in the scandinavias, or canada, or basically everywhere else in the entire fucking world where they have not only universal healthcare of some form but also meaningful parental leave.

Also giving fathers paternity leave equal to a mother's maternity leave, and making sure they take it, is in fact the only way to not affect women's employment any.