The Best Places New Dads Can Score A Job At

By: Phoebe Ackland, ellaslist

Check out the top 5 companies for new dads to nab a job at. Unfortunately, they're in the U.S, but these inspiring workplaces have a pretty darn good ethos about allowing new dads plenty of time and flexibility to adjust to fatherhood and spend quality time with their new offspring. If only Australia's head honchos could follow suit!

1. Netflix

Their California-based office offers up to 1 year of paid paternal leave for full-time employees, and 16 weeks for casual employees. Chief Talent Officer Tawni Cranz told Fatherly: “Parents can return part-time, full-time, or return and then go back out as needed. We’ll just keep paying them normally, eliminating the headache of switching to state or disability pay.” The company also has an unlimited vacation policy, and to prove it, CEO Reed Hastings took 6 weeks off after the announcement. 

2. Etsy

This retail movement has a 26-week regardless of gender paid parental leave policy. Eight of those weeks must be taken continuously during the first 6 months after a birth or adoption, but after that, the remaining weeks can be taken anytime over the next 2 years. They even have an in-office parent's room that is beautifully decorated, a rooftop garden, and they buy lunch for all their employees twice a week from a local restaurant or caterer, which they call "Eatsy". Their Brooklyn, New York office has 1043 lucky employees. 

3. American Express

This multinational seriously upgraded their parental leave scheme, from 6 weeks off for primary caregivers and 2 weeks off for secondary caregivers to a much more generous 5 months for all new parents. They have worked to make parent's work schedules more flexible, and have even begun a "Caregiver of the Year" in-office award scheme. The New-York based office also gives employees up to $35,000 in medical assistance if they go the adoption, IVF or surrogate route, parents get 20 days of childcare (either in-home or at a local centre) paid for per year, and a "summer flex" program where employees can compress their working weeks, and get up to 4 days off. 

4. Spotify

Spotify's New-York based office offers 24 weeks of paid parental leave, which parents can use intermittently or all in one go until the child turns 3. New employees with kids under 3 are entitled to the same. They have a 'Welcome Back' program which allows for a much smoother transition back to full-time work with flexible hours and work-from-home options available to settle employees back into the swing of things. Employees also get front row seats to 'Spotify Sessions' and a 'Focus on Fatherhood' program where dads have activities planned for them, and talks from top execs about how to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

5. Facebook

The birth of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's first child and his subsequent 2-months leave helped to shift the policy of parental leave at the company. All parents get 17 weeks of paid leave, as well as a new child benefit to cover new costs, an extra 3 days of sick leave (in addition to the standard 21 days) to take care of kids, $20,000 worth of family planning benefits (to cover egg-freezing, surrogacy fees, etc) and of course, an employee-only Facebook group 'Dads@Facebook' where fellow dads can go for support.

Thanks to Fatherly for the seriously awesome list.