Skip to main content

What I've Been Reading This Week: Netflix's Parental Leave Policy


Given all the attention to Netflix's parental leave policy announced recently, I thought it was appropriate to point readers towards some additional articles on the topic.  Unsurprisingly, there are supporters and critics of the new policy.  I think it is worth a look at both sides of the argument, in order to get a better understanding of how this policy will impact workers going forward.

As always, below are a few articles that caught my eye this week.


The Challenge Facing Netflix's Parental Leave Policy...& a Possible Solution?

Business Insider has a well thought out look at one of the main challenges facing Netflix's parental leave policy:  The uneasiness/unwillingness of workers to actually use the leave provided by the new policy out of fear that they will become expendable, not be able to catchup on the work they miss, burden their coworkers, etc.  The same line of reasoning often applies to why workers do not use all of their vacation time.  However, the article notes a possible solution to the issue, should Netflix embrace the concept.



As Rex Huppke over at The Chicago Tribune puts it, paid maternity leave in the United States is less than adequate.  In fact, he writes "When it comes to paid maternity leave, we, as a country, suck."  That is certainly one way to be address the matter.  But as Rex points out, this Netflix policy moves in a bold direction, one that many companies would be wise to follow, given the need for longer parental leave in this country.  Note, I included this article for a simple reason:  Rex makes some sweeping arguments against proponents of the new policy that I think readers can draw from in order to better understand exactly how this policy will impact Netflix workers (and potentially others), going forward.



This is a thorough article from the Huffington Post that delves into the Netflix workforce that will not be able to utilize the new parental leave policy.  As the article notes, treating these Netflix workers in the DVD distribution centers differently could prove to be a potential risk that could backfire.  For now, these workers are excluded from the new policy...but could that change?  Perhaps; time will tell.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

NLRB: Discussion Among Employees About Tip Pooling is Protected Concerted Activity

  This Advice Memorandum from the National Labor Relations Board’s Associate General Counsel, Jayme Sophir, addressed whether employees which discussed and complained about tip pooling at work constituted protected concerted activity. In relevant part, an employer in New York operated a chain of steakhouses.  While tip pooling was in place at these steakhouses, some of the employees objected to it on the grounds that it was not transparent and improperly divided tips among the workers.  Employees were told not to complain or talk to each other about the tip pool and were told that doing so would endanger their jobs.  Despite the employer later attempting to provide some clarity as to how the tips were being divided, rancor still existed among some employees.  At one point, the employees were told by a general manager that some employees that had been talking about the tip pool were “cleared out” and the employer would continue to do so. In the Advice Memorandum,...
Post a Comment
Read more

Breaking: Labor Secretary Rumored to Be Leaving Administration

A few hours ago, word leaked out that Labor Secretary Marty Walsh (“Walsh”) is in the midst of negotiations to head up the NHL Players Union and leave his position at the Labor Department. Walsh, who has served as the sole Labor Secretary under President Biden, has taken part in a labor renaissance of sorts as support for organized labor has increased during his term as Labor Secretary (although the number of workers that have joined a union over the past two years has not grown as mush as some expected.)  He has also overseen the ongoing negotiations with rail workers over a new contract, although that matter is still on shaky ground and playing out as we speak. As for who might step into the vacant Labor Secretary role, there are already rumblings that President Biden should nominate Deputy Labor Secretary Julie Su (a strong labor advocate) or even a progressive like Senator Bernie Sanders.  Until Walsh officially gives his notice, however, I would expect some/many potential...
Post a Comment
Read more

San Diego Rolls Back Vaccine Mandate For City Workers

Last Tuesday, the San Diego City Council voted to do away with the vaccine mandate for city employees. The city’s vaccine mandate that was in place required city workers to get the coronavirus vaccine or risk termination.  Perhaps to this surprise of no one, the city’s policy came under fire with 14 employees being terminated and over 100 other employees resigning.  With the coronavirus subsiding, including in Southern California, the San Diego City Council took action. Now, bear in mind, the repeal of the vaccine mandate does not take place immediately. With that being said, the mandate will be repealed March 8th.  I suppose the question now is, what other cities or regions follow San Diego’s lead? For additional information:   https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/story/2023-01-24/san-diego-repeals-controversial-covid-19-vaccine-mandate-citing-drop-in-cases-hospitalizations
Post a Comment
Read more