The founder and head of social networking site Facebook, Mark Zukerberg, has said that he will take two months of paternity leave after the birth of his daughter. There are currently no laws in the United States that mandate paid paternity leave to fathers, unlike in most European nations.
Writing in Facebook post the CEO called the decision a personal one and wrote: “Studies show that when working parents take time to be with their newborns, outcomes are better for the children and families.”
Maternity
The heads of a number of other young tech companies, such as Spotify, have also acted to set a good example when it comes to taking paternity leave.
However, this is sharp contrast with the Yahoo CEO Marissa Meyer who announced in September that she was going back to work just two weeks after giving birth.
Four months
Interestingly Facebook offers up to four months paid paternity to leave to its employees, so Zuckerberg is only technically taking half of it, however this is much more than the average new American father will take.
The leaders of tech companies are consistently taking a lead on the issue. The founders of music streaming service Spotify recently announced a new paid leave plan for working parents. Any full-time Spotify employee will be able to take up to six months of 100 percent paid leave, either all at once or split into three sections, from 60 days before their child’s arrival to the child’s third birthday.
Robert joined the HRreview editorial team in October 2015. After graduating from the University of Salford in 2009 with a BA in Politics, Robert has spent several years working in print and online journalism in Manchester and London. In the past he has been part of editorial teams at Flux Magazine, Mondo*Arc Magazine and The Marine Professional.
