AD’S PARENTAL LEAVE POLICIES DESERVE SOME SERIOUS SIDE EYE

This piece originally appeared in the Where Are The Boss Ladies newsletter, May 13, 2019. 

It’s 2019, and 80% of mothers and 67% of fathers consider leaving advertising because they don’t feel supported enough by their agencies. Surprising? Not really. We know that parental leave not only benefits the financial welfare of women, but of our entire economy: so why have these policies been so slow to adapt? Campaign US set out to stir the pot with its comprehensive report of over 20 agencies’ current parental leave policies. 

Some highlights: 72andSunny offers primary caregivers 6 months of paid leave, as well as a new Bugaboo stroller (I’m not a mom, but that sounds expensive). AKQA offers up to $1k in take-out food purchased during leave (Yas!). And Wieden+Kennedy, never one to miss a shortlist, covers up to $30k for infertility treatments or egg-freezing storage. However, the majority of agencies listed ranged from 6-12 weeks, often advising employees to utilize short-term disability leave as well as their own paid time off. Eyeroll...

What are folks on Fishbowl saying? It’s important for us to know these policies at hiring, as they can influence the whole trajectory of our careers. Not only are parental leave policies inconsistent across agencies, but also can be misleading.

While we can seek out agencies who prioritize parental leave, how can we enact change in our current places of work? Try aligning with coworkers to draft a proposal for new policy based on similar agencies, like these women at the New York Times. Pursue your company’s HR and leadership team; Fairygodboss has some great tips and information. And don’t give up—the closer we can get to more supportive workplaces for parents, the sooner we can close that gender wage gap for good. 

Not on Fishbowl yet? You should be. And make sure to sign up for the Where Are The Boss Ladies newsletter for more boss bitch-focused content.