Image sharing service Pinterest has updated the parental benefits available to its more than 3,000 employees across the world.
As of 1 January 2022, a minimum of 20 weeks of parental leave will be offered for all parents to bond with their newborn or newly adopted child. Adoptive parents will also benefit from an increase in monetary assistance from $5,000 to $10,000 (£3,786 to £7,572).
In addition, the business will allow parents of newborns in neonatal intensive care units to take 8 weeks of paid leave as family care leave, as well as offering four weeks of paid leave to parents who experience a loss through miscarriage at any point in pregnancy.
Two IVF cycles and egg freezing will also be available as part of a global extension from an existing benefit for US-based workers.
Pinterest will continue to offer employees personalised parenting and pregnancy loss support through a mental fitness app; free subscriptions to the Calm app; mental health resources and support through its Employee Assistance Programme; four weeks of paid Covid-19 (Coronavirus) leave for reasons including childcare due to school closures; and ‘Pintention’ days, where the entire organisation takes a break so employees can have extra time off.
Christine Deputy, Pinterest’s chief people officer, said that parents deserved support and a balanced work environment at all stages of family planning and child care, especially during a public health crisis.
She explained that this is part of the organisation’s work to advance a culture where employees feel supported to bring their full selves to work and create a life they love.
“Extending our benefits to offer all employees more time and support to care for their children and themselves is critical to foster a positive environment for working parents in an ever-changing landscape,” said Deputy. “People do their best work when they feel seen and supported in a workplace that’s inclusive and inspiring.”