The best companies for new dads in 2016
The new dream for working fathers is to Netflix and chill.
Netflix is the best workplace for new dads, according to a new report from online parenting guide Fatherly.
The study, released Tuesday, ranks the 50 best businesses for new dads in the U.S. based on surveying companies directly about their paid leave policies, on-site childcare, workplace flexibility and other factors.
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The video company, which had not even ranked among the top 50 on the previous year's list, shot to the top this year thanks in large part to its decision to provide unlimited paid leave to new parents for the first year after their child's birth.
The improved benefits at Netflix, though more generous than most, mirror a broader improvement among large U.S. businesses. Case in point: The average amount of paid time off for employees of the 50 companies on the list nearly doubled from the previous year, according to Fatherly.
Tech companies like Netflix, Facebook and Spotify have helped pave the way for that by introducing expanded perks and accommodations for new parents as part of a benefits arms race to vie for talent in a hyper-competitive market.
Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and CEO of Facebook, made headlines for taking a high-profile two-month paternity leave after the birth of his first child.
"Last year when we looked at it, the list was primarily dominated by tech and finance," said Simon Isaacs, cofounder of Fatherly. "Now we are seeing more and more companies understand and value it."
That said, the top of the list is still dominated by the tech industry with Netflix followed by Spotify and Facebook. Patagonia, an outdoor apparel brand, edges out the fourth spot.
Then comes more tech and finance: Pinterest, Google, Microsoft, Bank of America, LinkedIn and Twitter round out the top 10.
Facebook is praised for providing new parents with a $4,000 "new child benefit" on top of its generous paid leave.
Pinterest is highlighted for offering a fifth "transition" month for new dads to ease back into the office with a reduced schedule after their four months on paternity leave.
And Google goes so far as to provide employees with counseling to plan for parenthood.
"Parental leave is like the new beanbag chair [for tech companies]," Isaacs says.
Now everybody wants one.
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Topics Netflix
Seth Fiegerman was a Senior Business Reporter at Mashable, where he covered startups, marketing and the latest consumer tech trends. He joined Mashable in August 2012 and is based in New York.Before joining Mashable, Seth covered all things Apple as a reporter at Silicon Alley Insider, the tech section of Business Insider. He has also worked as a staff writer at TheStreet.com and as an editor at Playboy Magazine. His work has appeared in Newsweek, NPR, Kiplinger, Portfolio and The Huffington Post.Seth received his Bachelor of Arts from New York University, where he majored in journalism and philosophy.In his spare time, Seth enjoys bike riding around Brooklyn and writing really bad folk songs.
