The United States is just 1 of 8 countries without a federal paid family leave policy.

In late 2020, paid parental leave became effective for state employees as a part of Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s executive budget.  

President Joe Biden has proposed requiring employers to provide 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave as a part of the American Families Plan (AF). 

As the conversation around paid parental leave continues, a CMF member is supporting their staff with their own policy. 

In honor of Father’s Day, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) shared on its communications channels how its paid parental leave policy has benefited the lives of its employees and their families.

The foundation’s parental support policy offers new parents up to 12 weeks of paid leave to care for their newborn, foster child or adopted child or a child who is placed in their home by a court. For the birth mother, this leave is in addition to the paid employee medical leave for pregnancy and childbirth.

WKKF shared the stories of several fathers who serve on the foundation’s communications team to “understand the many ways paid leave improves both home life and the workplace” through their Every Child Thrives site. 

Javon Dobbs, communications manager at WKKF, took time off after his son was born. 

According to Dobbs, his relationship with WKKF as an employer was positively impacted from the parental leave policy. 

“I feel a gratitude that causes me to show up at work in a certain way because WKKF made an investment not only in me, but in my family,” Dobbs said in the WKKF article. 

Jonathan Pulley, program specialist at WKKF, shared his story with CMF. The WKKF paternity leave played a crucial role in his family amid the pandemic and when his wife was working and going to school full time and pregnant with twins. 

“My daughters were born prematurely and there was inconsistency that was going on in the country, along with things in my personal life such as college campuses going remote, new adjustments with working from home and preparing for a baby,” Pulley said. 

Pulley was able to make a plan with WKKF to take time off to ensure whenever his daughters were born, he would be able to start paternity leave. 

Pulley shared that the policy was instrumental for him to be alongside his wife in the recovery process and with daily NICU visits to bond and connect with his daughters. 

“It would have been really hard for me to have to return to work directly after the birth of the girls because of the situation my family was in. The girls were in the NICU for 22 days and because of the pandemic, they only had visitors from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If I went back to work, I would not have been able to see my daughters in their most vulnerable part of their life, I wouldn’t be able to get updates on their progress, hold them and just be present for them,” Pulley said.

Pulley said the time he was able to spend with his family was priceless.

“WKKF cares about children and it shows up in all work we do, that includes internal policies and practices and our grantmaking strategies. This policy gave me peace of mind to know that I will have much-needed time with my wife and children,” Pulley said.

According to Pulley, this policy is bold and transformative but plays an important part in keeping families together and allowing the child to experience the best of their parents and uninterrupted, dedicated family time.

Pulley shared that being a father has made him a better co-worker, employee and husband. 

“I would ask other organizations to consider implementing a similar policy because the childbirth process is both a joyous occasion but comes with a lot of uncertainty and requires full engagement from both parents,” Pulley said. “Parents should not have to negotiate vacation time with the birth of their child.”

In addition to parental leave support, WKKF has supported new moms in the workplace with “breastfeeding-friendly” offices. 

At the Battle Creek headquarters, nursing mothers have access to a number of private rooms that are specifically set aside for pumping and equipped with related supplies. 

When new parents arrive back to work following the birth of a new child, they receive a welcome note with information about the location of nursing rooms and how to schedule pumping, location of changing tables, a small welcome back gift and an invitation to receive a free breast milk cooler.

The foundation allows paid break time for nursing mothers to express breast milk while at work.

In 2020, WKKF was recognized for this work by The Michigan Breastfeeding Network (MIBFN), which is committed to advocacy, education and coalition building to create a supportive culture. MIBFN presented WKKF with the Gold Breastfeeding-Friendly Workplace Award in 2020.

The foundation also provides a comprehensive health care plan that supports preventive prenatal services as well as postnatal breastfeeding resources. This includes access to lactation consultations and related counseling, as well as coverage for breastfeeding equipment and related supplies.
 

“These policies have encouraged balance and flexibility for employees who are caregivers,” Lara Das, talent officer at WKKF said.

Want more?

Learn more about how WKKF’s paid parental leave policy is benefiting employees.