As hard working employees of Wells Fargo and expecting parents, we were thrilled to learn that the company has announced a new paid maternity and paternity leave policy which will guarantee employees 16 weeks of fully paid leave for mothers and 4 weeks paid for fathers. However, we were shocked and saddened to learn that the policy would not apply to a large portion of us, because currently pregnant women as of April 6, 2016 are not eligible unless they give birth on or after June 1st. For those who give birth prior to June 1st, we must file for short term disability with a max of 6-8 weeks (6 weeks for natural birth and 8 weeks for C-section) at 65% pay. This announcement affects hundreds of families who will not get the much needed bonding time with families. We are hoping those currently pregnant can be grandfathered into the new wonderful benefits. Women should not be risking their health or their children's health trying to stay pregnant longer. This is only adding more stress to these expecting mothers. We urge the company entities in charge to consider making some changes to the policy. While it is possible for some of the expecting mothers to deliver late, this is not the case for all of us. Some must deliver early or schedule C-sections in order to keep their baby and themselves safe and healthy. We as parents do not always call the shots when it comes to when our children enter this world. And healing time for some can extend pass the 8 week mark when they are expected to go back to work. Not only are they then sitting at their desk trying to concentrate on work, but they could be suffering from the pain of unhealed incisions on top of constantly thinking of their babies at home or in daycare. It is very disappointing to hear we will not get this much needed time to heal or bond with our new babies just because we are due earlier than this pre-released change date. Our health is more important and for a company that claims to be ‘One Wells Fargo’ and ‘Together we’ll go far’ is making us seem like we are not part of their mission of unity. Some of us are single parents and the partial disability pay will not support us during this time when we should be most concerned of the care of our new babies. Since this announcement, we have been told a number of different things and not one of those things is that the company wants to figure out a way to help us. This situation is very disappointing and stressful and during a time when we should be excited for our new arrivals. We feel the successful company that Wells Fargo is has the ability to implement this in a different manner so more employees can not only bond with their new babies and heal, but to also have peace of mind. All employees matter.

As a huge fan of Netflix and a fairly new mom, I was so excited to hear Netflix announce a groundbreaking new parental leave policy for its employees: “an unlimited leave policy for new moms and dads that allows them to take off as much time as they want during the first year after a child’s birth or adoption.” But I’m disappointed to learn that not all Netflix employees will get this crucial benefit. The U.S. is the only industrialized nation that doesn’t mandate paid parental leave and the Department of Labor estimates that only 12% of U.S. private sector workers get paid family leave through their employer. That’s why it is such a big deal that companies like Netflix are taking the lead to ensure their employees have the time that is required to bond with their new children. But shortly after the fanfare about Netflix’s new policy, the company confirmed to The Huffington Post that hundreds of workers in the company’s DVD division aren’t eligible for the company’s new parental leave policy. Sure, the DVD service might be less popular these days, but it still brings in hundreds of millions of dollars for Netflix and is even MORE profitable than the company’s streaming services. More importantly, it’s wrong for Netflix to create two classes of employees. Already, there’s a divide between higher income earners (especially in the tech industry) and low wage workers in terms of access to important benefits like parental leave. Netflix shouldn’t be contributing to this inequality within its own company. The warehouse workers who handle the returning, sorting and shipping of DVDs deserve to benefit from the same “freedom and responsibility” culture Netflix says it works to create. Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/

KEEN Footwear’s rugged and comfortable shoes are iconic among those who love the outdoors. The company’s shoes are now sold in more than 1,000 retail outlets in the U.S. and abroad, and buzz around the Portland-based brand continues to build. There's no question that KEEN’s talented employees are a big factor in the company’s success. But we recently learned that KEEN does not provide its U.S. employees with fully-paid parental leave. Instead, KEEN requires that new moms rely on six weeks of short-term disability at 60% of their paycheck after giving birth. Fathers and second parents have to use any paid vacation or sick leave they have stored up, depriving them of time to care for and bond with their children. The current policy isn’t competitive, and many feel it’s not enough time for new parents to recover from childbirth and bond with their children. Paid family leave isn't just the right thing to do -- it makes business sense, too. In 2007, data-driven Google realized that its paid parental leave program actually saved the company money by reducing costly turnover of mid-level and senior employees. Some of KEEN’s competitors offer paid family leave, too. Patagonia already offers eight weeks of maternity and paternity leave, as well as on-site childcare. The CEO of Toms Shoes, Blake Mycoskie, recently wrote in a blog post, “It's nuts that more companies haven't figured out what a win-win paid family leave is.” His company provides 12 weeks of paid parental leave to all parents, and Mycoskie claims it's made their workforce more productive and creative. There are so many reasons why paid parental leave just makes sense. Several members of Democracy for America work for KEEN in Portland, Oregon, and each hope to see a change in the company’s leave policy. DFA is championing paid family leave legislation at the state and national level, but we're also fighting on behalf of our members who work for employers that don't yet offer paid family leave. That’s why we're leading this campaign for change at KEEN. The United States is the only developed nation that doesn’t require paid parental leave, but many companies and local governments are taking steps to offer this important benefit to their staff. KEEN should be a leader on this issue. Not only will it lead to happier and healthier employees and families -- it’s something consumers want to see, too. Do the right thing, KEEN, and offer all employees at least eight weeks of paid parental leave.

My name is Courtnee Dean. For the past 10 years, I have been a loyal employee of Olive Garden store 1370 in Bala Cynwyd, PA. I am also a mother, currently seven months pregnant with my second child. On October 1st, 2014, I was unfairly terminated from my employment at Darden Restaurants for a lost coupon. I offered to compensate for the coupon, but the manager, Lily, refused the money. Instead of following the customary procedure of writing me up or taking the money, she called corporate and had me terminated. Even after working at Darden for 10 years, not only was I treated as disposable but so was my growing family. That’s why I am demanding that Darden Restaurants make this right by: 1) restoring my employment, 2) fully compensate me for all the time I have missed from work as a result of this unjust termination, and 3) meet with me and members of the Restaurant Opportunities Center United to address my case and the issues that workers face from Darden management all over the country, like being discriminated against for being pregnant and being forced to work while sick. Please join me in asking Darden Restaurants, the largest full-service restaurant company in the world, to do the right thing so that I can support my family and prevent similar situations from happening to the rest of Darden’s employees.