Deloitte’s new family leave program for its U.S. employees includes time off for elder care, spousal care and child care beyond infancy.
Both male and female employees can take up to 16 weeks of paid family leave each year, and new mothers will be eligible for six months of paid time off, including short-term disability for childbirth. Staff must take at least three consecutive days off to qualify for the program.
“Paid family leave is for extended time away from work,” Amy Leonard, a spokesperson for Deloitte U.S. told Benefits Canada in an email. “In the case of one-off situations like appointments, employees can use paid time off.”
Read: Paid sick leave to be extended to 800,000 U.S. employees
The new policy doesn’t affect Deloitte’s Canadian employees, who have their own set of options. When taking care of a loved one with an illness or disability, staff can set their own hours, work from home or work a reduced week, Jeannie Tsang, a spokesperson for Deloitte Canada told Benefits Canada in an email.
Staff are also eligible for three personal or family care days each year, can apply for unpaid leave and can take advantage of the company’s family support services. That program includes partial reimbursement for up to three emergency visits from child care or elder care professionals when an employee’s regular arrangements have fallen through.
In the U.S., the Family and Medical Leave Act grants up to 12 weeks of unpaid time off each year for full-time staff at companies with at least 50 employees. Earlier this week, presidential nominee Donald Trump’s campaign broke with Republican tradition by proposing six weeks of maternity leave, which would be covered by existing unemployment insurance. Hillary Clinton has called for 12 weeks parental leave for both mothers and fathers paid for by taxes on the wealthy.