C08: New Parent Support

(3 points)

INTENT

Ensure new parents can properly care for themselves and their children.

SUMMARY

This WELL feature requires paid parental leave, supportive services for parents returning to work and resources to ensure workplace support and inclusion.   

ISSUE

Despite infant care being a universal need, adequate paid parental leave is not guaranteed in all parts of the world. Although most countries guarantee a minimum paid maternity leave, many do not offer paid partner leave, and when they do it is often significantly shorter in duration.^[8] Maintaining an infant’s health in its first months of life is crucial to the baby's long-term health, and paid leave policies can help support this critical period of infant behavioral and neurological development. 

SOLUTIONS

The International Labour Organization recommends a minimum of 18 weeks of parental maternity leave, with research indicating that 40 weeks of paid leave results in the greatest overall reduction of risk for infant mortality. Longer parental leave periods are associated with a decline in school dropout rates and increased earnings for children later in life. Moreover, research shows that parental leave of up to a year (52 weeks) can help improve job continuity for women even years after childbirth. The World Health Organization recommends the exclusive breastfeeding of infants up to six months of age (and continued breastfeeding up to two years and beyond), which studies show offers extensive health benefits to both infant and mother, including reduced rates of asthma, allergies, and ear infections among children, decreased rates of maternal depression and overall improved self-reported maternal health. Offering paid leave helps facilitate exclusive breastfeeding and in turn promotes the health of mothers and children.

IMPACT

Paid parental leave is associated with numerous health benefits, including higher rates of breastfeeding, reduced infant mortality and maternal postpartum depression, decreased risk of low birthweight infants, higher paternal involvement, and long-term achievement for children, including reduced school drop-out rates and increased medical appointment attendance. In addition to offering health and social benefits, organizational support for new parents increases employee retention and company loyalty.

REQUIREMENTS

Part 1

Offer New Parent Leave (Max: 3 points)

Verified by Policy Document

For All Spaces

Parental leave is available for all eligible employees and meets the following requirements:

1. At least 40 weeks of parental leave are offered during any 12-month period to use during pregnancy, for the adoption or fostering of a child, or within the first three years of a child’s life.

2. At least some portion of the parental leave is paid per the table below. Paid parental leave is offered to all primary caregivers during any 12-month period during pregnancy, within the first three years of a child's life, or for the adoption or fostering of a child, as shown in the table below. Paid leave must be separate from other types of leave (e.g., sick leave, annual leave, vacation time), paid at employee’s full salary or wages, and cover benefits:

   Weeks of Paid Leave	Points
   18-29 weeks	2
   30-52 weeks	3

Part 2

Promote Workplace Support (1 point)

Verified by Policy Document

For All Spaces

Projects offer the following services to support employees returning from leave:

1. Programs covering at least one of the following:

   1. Part-time options (e.g., ramp-back programs).
   2. Work from home flexibility.

    

2. Coaching program or resources to help employees transition when returning from leave.

3. Training or resources for managers on how to work with employees to create a plan for leave and optimally support employees returning from leave. 

4. Program or plan for supporting staffing while employee is on leave, such as temporary staffing services or training for current employees to cover job functions of employee on leave.  

© International WELL Building Institute