EEOC: Parental & Bonding Leave Policies Should be the Same for Moms and Dads

By Corie J. Anderson - Seaton, Peters & Revnew, P.A.

March 2, 2018

In August 2017, the EEOC sued Estee Lauder Companies, Inc. based on a parental leave program that provided employees with paid leave to bond with a new child, as well as flexible return-to-work benefits. Mothers were given 6 additional weeks of paid bonding leave, while fathers were only given 2 weeks, and were not provided the flexible return-to-work benefits. The EEOC alleged such a policy violated Title VII and the Equal Pay Act of 1963, prohibiting discrimination in pay or benefits based on sex. It was recently announced that the lawsuit has been settled, while the terms have yet to be disclosed.

What does this mean for employers? While bonding leave or parental leave policies that go above and beyond any legal requirement are more common and certainly routed in good intentions, you should consider taking another look at any such policy that provides different benefits based on gender.