Dive Brief:
- Last week, Deloitte LLP announced that they are extending their paid family leave program, allowing employees to take 16 weeks off to care for a family member, including a new child, a spouse or an aging parent, Fortune reported.
- Deloitte is the latest consulting company to seek expansions to their paid leave plans, as EY had made a similar announcement in April to expand their paid leave program for new parents to 16 weeks.
- 88% of employees polled by Deloitte said that they "would value a paid leave program that includes family care beyond parental leave," Fortune reported. The Wall Street Journal in particular noted the allowance for elder care in the new plan as one of the most important and currently somewhat unusual aspects of the fairly generous plan.
Dive Insight:
Deloitte's announcement reflects a sea change in not only the professional services industry but for employers in general. Paid parental leave is still gaining attention throughout the country, but other types of paid family leave, including elder care, are taking hold so that employers can better distinguish themselves as well as fully provide for an employee's range of needs.
With a workplace now made up of about five generations, having family leave programs that can appeal to all needs seems key in the hunt for talent.
