CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As of Jan. 1, Duke Energy provided a new benefit for parents of six weeks paid time off for both mothers and fathers within the first 16 weeks of birth or adoption.
New mothers are able to take a total of 12 weeks paid time off, six weeks through the company’s existing pregnancy-related disability benefit, and an additional six weeks under the new parental leave.
In a release, Duke Energy said they hope to bolster a work-family balance and help attract and retain highly skilled workers.
"Paid parental leave will give Duke Energy employees important quality time to bond with their new children without the financial pressure of having to immediately return to work,” said Melissa Anderson, executive vice president and chief human resources officer. “Coupled with our other work-family benefits, paid parental leave also will help us recruit and retain the next generation of highly skilled workers.”
Duke Energy joins a relatively small group of U.S. companies that offer paid parental leave.
Only 21 percent of American companies provide paid maternity leave, and 17 percent provide paid paternity leave, according to a 2015 benefits survey conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management.
Duke Energy’s benefit is unique, because they do not make distinctions between the primary caregiver and non-primary caregiver. They include the full benefits to either parent.
Duke Energy also has several other family-focused employee benefits.
This includes a $5,000 reimbursement for costs associated with adopting a child, paid time off to care for a sick or injured child, parent or other family member and 10 hours of paid time off each year to volunteer in an employee’s child’s school, or any other school.
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