Christiana Care Health System has committed to providing 12 weeks of paid parental leave to employees starting Fiscal Year 2021. The benefit will apply to eligible caregivers (mothers and fathers) for the birth, adoption or foster care placement of a child.

"We know that the bond formed between mother and child in the first few weeks of life can have a tremendous impact on the health of the baby and the well-being of the family," said Janice E. Nevin, M.D., MPH, Christiana Care president and chief executive officer. "We are delighted that we will be able to provide this enhanced parental leave benefit to our caregivers next year."

Christiana is following the lead of the state of Delaware, which recently implemented a similar benefit for its employees.

"We applaud the state of Delaware for having the vision and courage to take this step for its employees," Nevin said. "While we understand that paid parental leave is an expensive benefit for employers to offer, we hope that other organizations will consider taking this step to make a positive impact on the health and prosperity of our community."

In addition, Christiana Care provides flexible leave options for employees, including paid time off, disability leave accounts and optional short-term disability, as well as protected unpaid parental leave in accordance with the Family Medical Leave Act. Last December, Christiana Care was the first health system in Delaware to increase its minimum wage to $15 an hour.

"This enhancement to our parental leave policy supports our caregivers and strengthens our organizational vitality," said Christopher J. Cowan, M.Ed., FABC, senior vice president, Human Resources. "It enables us to attract and retain the most talented workforce and reinforces our reputation as a sought-after employer and top workplace in Delaware and the region."