Sports retailer Nike has announced that it has doubled its parental leave benefit for all of its employees based in the US as of this month.
As of 1 June, it has increased its paid parental leave benefit from eight to 16 weeks, to allow workers time to bond with their child after birth, adoption or foster placement. For the first time, the retailer has extended this benefit to its part-time retail employees.
Nike announced the news via a LinkedIn post, where it also shared some new products for new and expecting mothers. It explained that it had made the change in order to support employees on their journey to parenthood.
A Nike spokesperson said: “New parents are some of the hardest working athletes around, and when you’re a new parent on our team, we want to make sure you have the time you need to care for your family. That’s why, as of 1 June, we’ve doubled our parental leave benefit from eight to 16 weeks for all US-based Nike employees, including, for the first time, part-time retail teammates, to give them more time with their child after birth, adoption or foster placement.”
Nike also offers its employees competitive pay, retirement plans, fitness opportunities and discounts for all levels and goals, paid time off, paid holidays, summer hours, an employee discount, health care packages, volunteering time, and a Nike Group Insurance Plan.
Nike is not the only employer to have amended its parental leave policy this month. Development, building and property maintenance firm Wates Group increased its fully-paid paternity leave provision from eight weeks to 12 in order to reinforce its commitment to supporting its staff and their families. Employees can take this leave at any point within the first two years of the child being born or adopted, and it can be taken in blocks. It is now a day-one employment entitlement.
