Microsoft now gives 20 weeks parental leave 100% paid

[GoodBytes]

Microsoft had a lot of negative news in terms of employees, where due to the restructuring numerous employees lost their jobs (although they did get a substantial leave payment), and the company CEO getting a large promotion, which is an act frown about, due to employee layoffs.

However, some good news today, Microsoft is announcing to all it's employees that starting November 1st, maternity leave and paternity leave is extended up to 20 weeks, with 100% wage benefit.

 

Starting November 1st, Microsoft is increasing parental leave to 12 weeks with 100% salary coverage for all mothers and new fathers; birth mothers, get an additional 8 weeks for a total of 20 weeks paid leave. In addition, Microsoft will allow expectant birth mothers to take Short-Term Disability Leave during the two weeks prior to their scheduled due date to make sure the transition of welcoming a child into the world goes smoothly.

Related to their retirement, Microsoft increases employee benefits as well:

Microsoft is increasing 401(k) match from 50 percent of the first 6 percent that employees defer, to 50 percent of all regular deferrals; IRS limits this this deferral at $18,000 a year which means employees can get an addition $9,000 in contributions to their 401(k) from the company.

The goal of these changes is to attract new people in working for Microsoft, and retain current employees by providing a competitive benefit/wage compared to the other big companies.

Source: http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-is-increasing-maternity-and-paternity-benefits-up-to-20-weeks-leave

For reference, the U.S is not a very socialistic environment. Vacation time is generally low, and parental leave is very short as well. Taking days off of being sick is also poorly seen by managers. So while in some countries, they are laws or customs to give good benefits to employees as their society is more socialist, the U.S isn't, so getting good benefits in not something common there, unless you work for a large company. Or so I am told.

I think Linus should compete with this with its employees.

[kaylexmorgana]

it is the least they can do with the billions of dollars they have laying around

[Xorbot]

This is an imbalance to those who chose not to start a family.

[AlwaysFSX]

Only 20 weeks?

[DEDRICK]

 Microsoft only does 50% matching? My work matches my pension contributions 100%. 

[SurvivorNVL]

Five months.  But.. eh.  Doesn't seem like enough.

[ADZ_123_!"£]

Only 20 weeks?

That's only 6 weeks less than having half of the year off.

[GoodBytes]

Only 20 weeks?

Almost 5 months, yes.

[Solkia]

Good for the employees.

 

Microsoft still sucks though.

[AlwaysFSX]

That's only 6 weeks less than having half of the year off.

Almost 5 months, yes.

Quite honestly that's still not enough when you have a newborn.

[Tech_Dreamer]

I think Linus should compete with this for its employees.

 

[Sauron]

This is an imbalance to those who chose not to start a family.

 

Uh... if you don't have kids you don't need the leave... whereas if you have kids, not having it could be a disaster.

 

Quite honestly that's still not enough when you have a newborn.

[GoodBytes]

Quite honestly that's still not enough when you have a newborn.

Based on Wikipedia, the U.S government has no regulations on this. States defines them, but not directly the U.S government. It is all up to companies.

Washington state, where Microsoft main office are located, only says that if the company has more than 50 employees, they need to offer 12 weeks off, and it is up to the company to decide to pay or not pay them. And as you can imagine, most companies follow the minimum.

Here is table of what is offered per country:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parental_leave

From what I can see, 20 weeks is above most countries, especially the 100% paid part.

[dragosudeki]

I see a couple complaints about it not being enough... I watched John Oliver's video before and apparently parental leave isn't even a thing in the USA. Microsoft doing this is better than all those companies that actually threaten to fire you because of the parental leave or even the companies that just don't pay you at all during the leave... Search for John Oliver: Paid Family Leave if you want to be enlightened on why this is a good option.

[qwertywarrior]

i dont know what to do with this information

[kacper]

Quite honestly that's still not enough when you have a newborn.

Quite honestly , even 2 years wouldn't be enough.

 

Parental leave is really problematic for both sides . 20 weeks with full payment seems reasonable .

[Xorbot]

Uh... if you don't have kids you don't need the leave... whereas if you have kids, not having it could be a disaster.

 

Then consider not having kids if a career is desired.

 

As far as I can tell, having a kid is something that people can optionally do on their own time.  Whatever I choose to do on my own time should have nothing to do with my employer.

 

What it comes down to is there is a void of productivity when people are not working at the company while they get paid 100% wages.  To fill that void, more workers or contractors must be hired.  This results in a smaller pool of money that is paid-out to all employees as a whole.  Basically this amounts to a redistribution of money towards people who choose to start families from people who choose not to start families.  This is the part that is unfair towards people who choose to remain childless.

[ivan134]

Then consider not having kids if a career is desired.

 

As far as I can tell, having a kid is something that people can optionally do on their own time.  Whatever I choose to do on my own time should have nothing to do with my employer.

 

What it comes down to is there is a void of productivity when people are not working at the company while they get paid 100% wages.  To fill that void, more workers or contractors must be hired.  This results in a smaller pool of money that is paid-out to all employees as a whole.  Basically this amounts to a redistribution of money towards people who choose to start families from people who choose not to start families.  This is the part that is unfair towards people who choose to remain childless.

Quite frankly, I don't give a shit about the CoC after reading this. You're a fucking moron.

[Jasmin]

How is slightly less than 5 months supposed to be a lot? How much was there before O_o Though I suppose it's US where 2 months worth of wages is considered a lot in layoffs and companies advertise having 20 days off throughout the year as being a major boon...

[Sauron]

Then consider not having kids if a career is desired.

 

As far as I can tell, having a kid is something that people can optionally do on their own time.  Whatever I choose to do on my own time should have nothing to do with my employer.

 

What it comes down to is there is a void of productivity when people are not working at the company while they get paid 100% wages.  To fill that void, more workers or contractors must be hired.  This results in a smaller pool of money that is paid-out to all employees as a whole.  Basically this amounts to a redistribution of money towards people who choose to start families from people who choose not to start families.  This is the part that is unfair towards people who choose to remain childless.

 

Yeah, sure, let's divide society in parents and people with a good job. Great idea. Imagine if your parents had thought that. Would you even be here? Would you be poor or in a street? It baffles me how people talk about children and giving birth as if it didn't concern them in the slightest, as if they hadn't been in that exact situation.

[Real_PhillBert]

My employer offers 16 weeks at 100% compensation, then an additional 4 weeks can be had if approved at 50% compensation.

 

Both seem acceptable to me.  

[Xorbot]

Quite frankly, I don't give a shit about the CoC after reading this. You're a fucking moron.

 

I would disagree.  Everyone should be treated fairly and equally at a company.  No one should get higher rights or privileges than others unless it is the case of having access to things such as handicapped parking spaces or washrooms.

 

If I buy a new PC as my own choice, I do not get 20 weeks paid time to play games on said PC.  Maternity and paternity leave should actually not be a real thing.

[Xorbot]

Yeah, sure, let's divide society in parents and people with a good job. Great idea. Imagine if your parents had thought that. Would you even be here? Would you be poor or in a street? It baffles me how people talk about children and giving birth as if it didn't concern them in the slightest, as if they hadn't been in that exact situation.

 

Everyone is free to have children.  I have accumulated enough wealth in my career of 13 years to take several years off to raise a child until they are about 3 or 4 years old.  This would be my choice.  I think it is hazardous for people to have children and not be able to take care of them financially if something is to happen.  Sure there is life insurance for these purposes, but it doesn't hurt to have a ton of money as a buffer to be a responsible parent rather than having 2-3 kids while still living paycheck to paycheck.

[pjm0925]

This is an imbalance to those who chose not to start a family.

As someone who has made the choice to not have kids I have to disagree.

 

The balance comes when I can do what I want, when I want, and spend my money how I want.

[ivan134]

I would disagree.  Everyone should be treated fairly and equally at a company.  No one should get higher rights or privileges than others unless it is the case of having access to things such as handicapped parking spaces or washrooms.

 

If I buy a new PC as my own choice, I do not get 20 weeks paid time to play games on said PC.  Maternity and paternity leave should actually not be a real thing.

You are lucky you are not near me when you said this. Having kids is like buying a PC to play games? You are either a really good troll or you are the missing link.