The United States is one of the few developed countries in the world without mandated paid leave for parents. But slowly, companies are filling in the gaps when it comes to supporting working moms and dads.

The change started with tech companies. Netflix recently announced it would be giving employees unlimited maternity and paternity leave during the first year, and shortly after that, Adobe offered up to 26 weeks of paid maternity leave and 16 weeks for primary caregivers.

And now the nonprofit world is following suit. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which employs 1,382 people, announced that its new parental leave program will offer up to 52 weeks of paid leave for both moms and dads, according to KUOW, and also provide unlimited vacation time to all workers.

Melinda Gates has spoken out about the need for paid leave policies in the past. In an op-ed on Parents.com, she pointed out that it's not just a ploy to recruit the best workers, it's about families. "When all Americans have the ability to stay home with their new babies without incurring financial hardships or professional disadvantages, our country will be healthier, happier, and more productive," she wrote. "It's a goal we should all be working towards, for the health of our children."

Steven Rice, chief human resources officer for the foundation, elaborated in a statement:

"Our new parental leave program will offer up to 52 weeks of paid time-off for both mothers and fathers during the first year of a child's birth or adoption. This will enable parents to participate more fully in their children's lives, while also allowing them the flexibility and financial certainty to meet the needs of their growing families. Ultimately, our parental leave program is focused on healthier babies, parents who are able to thrive professionally, and strong and resilient families. We have also announced that employees will be able to take unlimited time-off without concern about their accrued sick leave or vacation, returning to work more focused and able to take on the foundation's boldest aspirations."

Though this is wonderful on paper, the idea of "unlimited" time off might not be so great in practice. Tech companies often offer countless vacation days, but that might actually lead you to take less vacation, not more, in order to keep up appearances that you're working hard. A few companies have actually gone back to a set number of days, so people will actually relax every so often. But as long as the Gates Foundation's culture practices what it preaches about supporting women and families, it's a win for everyone.

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