Companies with policies are encouraged to add theirs to the database so they can inspire others and provide practical insights into how they did it. Our. This may not cost the business in dollars and cents, but it could be costly in terms of increased burnout rates and lower morale among these employees. California’s New Parent Leave Act extends unpaid parental leave to employees at companies that have between 20 and 49 workers within 75 miles. For valued employees who don’t want to return to working full time, she allows them to work part-time. They are more likely than those with 20 to 249 employees to provide paid time off, including vacation and maternity leave, according to Employee Compensation research by NIFB Research Foundation. While it’s an advantage for their businesses, it’s also an opportunity to level the playing field for women like them, who face difficult child-rearing or caretaking choices that men don’t. To be eligible for paternity leave under this law, you must … Copyright © 2020 AllBusiness.com All Rights Reserved. With the exception of a few states and cities, like it or not, in the United States, “the onus is on the businesses to figure out a solution to paid leave,” said Heather Whaling, president at, She is a vocal advocate for paid parental leave and developed a crowdsourced resource for companies wanting to. I write about the success factors of women entrepreneurs. They are more likely than those with 20 to 249 employees to provide paid time off, including vacation and maternity leave, according to Employee Compensation research by NIFB Research Foundation. Obviously there’s a cost involved in offering leave to new mothers and fathers, even if the leave is unpaid. Our work provides clients with branded research, training and content opportunities that generate thought-leadership, visibility, sales, and brand loyalty. Don Sadler is a freelance commercial writer focusing in the areas of business and finance. Paid leave isn’t just important for parents with young children. Many owners feel that offering employees the opportunity to spend time at home with newborn or adopted children is the right thing to do. Either a temporary worker will have to be hired during the employee’s absence, the work will need to be outsourced to freelancers or contractors, or other employees will have to pick up the slack. Meanwhile the vast majority of employees at companies with fewer than 50 workers do take advantage of the opportunity to leave their jobs temporarily to care full time for newborn or adopted children if it is offered (whether paid or unpaid): 80 percent, according to a survey by the Families and Work Institute. With the exception of a few states and cities, like it or not, in the United States, “the onus is on the businesses to figure out a solution to paid leave,” said Heather Whaling, president at Geben Communication, a PR firm based in Columbus, Ohio.