In last week's episode, I mentioned that paid parental leave is something that’s becoming more of a table steaks benefit during the hiring process. No one knows that better than today’s guest, Allison Whalen, the co-founder and CEO of Parentaly, a business service that helps companies improve the experience of paid parental leave, so that employees feel supported and businesses thrive. 

We discuss why and how small businesses can and should offer paid parental leave to their team, and how offering paid leave helps boost employee happiness, engagement, and retention. Allison explains how to set up a plan so that paid family leave doesn’t impact the bottom line of a small business, and offers solutions to the two major concerns that she sees business owners struggle with when it comes to establishing a company protocol. Plus, Allison shares exactly how she’s handling her own upcoming maternity leave and takes us through her team’s process of ensuring a seamless transition while she’s away. 

IN THIS EPISODE, I TALK ABOUT:

• How Allison has seen the ​​paradigm shift around paid parental leave, especially for non-birthing individuals 
• What the current standards and trends are when it comes to paid family leave 
• Some of the major business benefits of offering paid parental leave, especially for smaller teams 
• Allison’s thoughts on having a part-time ‘welcome back month’ 
• How to create a culture where employees feel comfortable being transparent about their pregnancy or plans to start a family 
• The importance of defining your communication plan and boundaries before going on parental leave 

CONNECT WITH ALLISON 

Learn more on the Parentaly website: parentaly.com 

Follow Parentaly: @parentaly 

Connect with Allison on LinkedIn: Allison Whalen 

CONNECT WITH JACKIE

Follow People Principles: @peopleprinciples

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Learn more: peopleprinciples.co