Biglaw Firm Wows With New Parental Leave Policy
Hopefully other Biglaw firms will take note.
Recently there’s been a run of firms announcing new and improved plans for parental leave, though they’ve tended to come from the small — but prestigious — boutique firms. But on Friday, a Biglaw player decided to get in on the action announcing an impressive new program designed to provide new parents of all genders an opportunity to bond with their new babies.
Fenwick & West announced all attorney parents, irrespective of gender or caregiver status, will get 16 weeks of parental bonding time. Birthing mothers will receive 22 weeks of paid leave — the 16-week bonding time plus a minimum of 6 weeks pregnancy disability leave, which could be up to 29 weeks, depending on the actual time of disability.
As Fenwick managing partner Rodger Cole notes, this is an essential part of supporting their employees: “We want all of our professionals to flourish both personally and professionally. Programs like the new parental leave policy reflect our continuing investment and dedication towards that goal.”
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This is only the latest way that Fenwick supports working parents at the firm:
Fenwick continues to enhance the ways it supports parents who return to work. The firm offers access to consultants and coaches to help with back-to-work transitions, backup daycare and other childcare resources, a milk-shipping program for nursing mothers who travel on business, and privacy rooms in all firm offices, including the option to install privacy blinds for mothers who prefer the option to pump in their own office.
Plus, the firms offers a Transition Mentor Program and Parents Affinity Group to provide networks of support to parents. They also have various flexible work options available for attorneys interested in working a reduced schedule for a time after returning from leave.
Congratulations to Fenwick for stepping up their leave program. Hopefully other Biglaw firms will take note.
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Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).
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