We Like Spotify’s Tune on Paid Leave!

Statement by Family Values @ Work Director Ellen Bravo, who was present at the announcement of Spotifly’s new policies:

We’re delighted to hear Spotify is expanding their parental leave policy to six months fully paid for any parent of a new child, plus a month to ease back into their job. We especially appreciate that company executives want to call attention to this decision in the hopes of spurring public policies that would cover all workers, and want to to engage employees and users to help pass paid leave.

With today’s announcement, Spotify joins the ranks of companies enacting generous paid parental leave policies. They recognize that doing so is not just the right thing to do, but keeps them competitive and attracts the best and brightest employees. Spotify’s CEO Daniel Ek addressed the positive impact this paid family leave policy will have on increasing women’s equality and diversity, attracting more women in tech, as well as its importance to families. It is heartening to see a best-practice employer like Spotify speak out on this issue — we applaud them for helping move it forward.

Our policymakers must take note. Company policies go a long way in influencing culture, and it’s great that some companies are leading the way on this issue. However, these companies remain a small minority. We need a universal social insurance fund like the FAMILY Act so that every working American can both provide and care for their families—new babies but also seriously ill loved ones.

Spotify invited Valerie Jarrett  to their announcement as part of the White House Lead on Leave tour. Ms. Jarrett applauded the company’s move and called paid leave a ‘business imperative.’ The company also invited activists involved in the New York paid family leave insurance campaign—business owners, leading pediatricians, and leaders from labor, women’s and community groups. I was proud to be present!

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Family Values @ Work is a network of coalitions in 21 states working to pass policies that value families at work such as paid sick days and affordable family leave.

CONTACT: Leslie Patterson, leslie@berlinrosen.com, 646-200-5326