Starbucks' New Paid Parental Leave Policy: 18 Weeks For Moms & 12 Weeks For Dads, Tops Other Major Food Chains

U.S. companies have largely been criticized for its failure to improve its parental leave policy compared to other countries. Starbucks, however, is stepping up and finally providing mom and dad employees what they deserve.

The coffee company has announced its 2017 Parental Leave Benefit changes on its official site, covering 160,000 employees across the United States. The revised policy for parents will take effect in October.

Under Starbucks' new parental leave policy, birth moms employed at the coffee shops -- such as the baristas -- can enjoy up to six weeks of fully paid benefits plus 12 weeks unpaid leave. Birth moms employed at Starbucks' corporate offices -- such as district managers or field partners -- can enjoy 18 weeks of 100 percent paid leave.

Non-birth parents or the dads, adoptive and foster parents working at the Starbucks' shops can enjoy 12 weeks unpaid leave. Non-birth parents at the corporate offices, however, can have up to 12 weeks of fully paid leave.

The company's previous parental leave policy only offered six weeks maternity leave with 67 percent pay for birth moms. Dads did not have paid paternity leave benefits in its old policy.

"This is one of many steps we are actively taking to evolve our benefits and create a Partner Experience that lives up to our aspirations," Starbucks President and COO Kevin Johnson said, Fortune reports. The revised policy makes Starbucks one of the better restaurant chains that truly looks out for its employees' welfare.

According to Eater, McDonald's birth mom employees enjoy 12 weeks 50 percent paid parental leave. McDonald's dads, adoptive or foster parents, however, have no paid parental leave benefits. KFC and Taco Bell do not offer such benefits as well.

Paid parental leave policy has become a crucial topic among parents expecting changes in the new Trump government. Starbucks' policy might not nearly be as good as the ones enjoyed by workers in European countries but this is indeed a great start.