Hilton, Choice Hotels garner positive PR for extended parental leave

Employers in the hospitality industry are boosting parental benefits to all employees in order to attract and retain workers.

Hilton announced last year that it would offer parental leave of 10 weeks to new mothers and two weeks to new fathers and adoptive parents. The company recently announced that it would extend its adoption assistance to up to $10,000 for all hourly and salaried employees.

The move garnered some positive feedback for the hotel chain on Twitter:

@Probstisms, maybe we should switch from @Marriott to @HiltonHotels! @NPR: Hilton Extends Paid Parental Leave To All https://t.co/h6DwRJltWw

— Donnell Probst (@DonnellProbst) October 13, 2016

This makes me want to stay at Hilton properties. Really. When we take care of each other, we are a better... https://t.co/MiGKVeW5nm

— Coffee Party (@coffeepartyusa) October 13, 2016

Great job, @hiltonhotels! Paid #parentalleave to all, #adoption $ reimbursement and advance scheduling. Via @NPR https://t.co/w3TRNO1eAH

— Kimberly Rotter (@RotterWrites) October 13, 2016

An amazing step in the right direction! https://t.co/AktrJ2ssWw

— Nurse Purse (@Thenursepurse) October 12, 2016

Parental benefits are common among large tech companies and tech startups, where the competing for talent is essential to survival. In the hospitality industry, especially among lower-paid employees, parental benefits have never been common.

That seems like it’s about to change, and not just with Hilton.

RELATED: How to attract—and keep—a millennial workforce.

Choice Hotels announced that it would extend its parental leave and family care benefits in the United States.

New mothers can take up to 12 weeks of paid leave while fathers, adoptive parents and domestic partners can take up to four weeks of paid leave. The company is also offering “4 weeks return to work transition time for the primary caregiver, providing full pay for a reduced work schedule.”

In a statement, Choice Hotels HR chief Patrick Cimerola said that the policy reflects “the needs of our diverse workforce and takes a holistic perspective on work/life balance.”

He continued:

The expanded family leave program exemplifies this philosophy and will benefit the families of Choice Hotels' employees now and in the future.

Hotel employee parental leave has become a topic in this year’s presidential election, as well. Republican nominee Donald Trump has been criticized for not providing paid maternity leave at all of his hotels.

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