How eight companies stack up
Taking time off for the birth of a child can be a considerable obstacle for new parents who work in the food and restaurant industry. Federal law requires companies to allow 12 weeks of family leave for certain qualifying employees, but there are no requirements for compensation. Outside of California, Rhode Island, Washington, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia, all of which have passed paid family leave laws, it’s up to individual companies to set their own policies.
Progressive Americans had high hopes that an incoming Hillary Clinton administration would champion a national paid family leave policy. One of Clinton’s campaign promises was to guarantee 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents, but her defeat in the 2016 presidential election has made that pledge moot. President-elect Donald Trump has promised six weeks of paid maternity leave. However, Trump has made no mention of paid leave for working fathers, which places his proposal in line with the regressive social idea that men should go to work and women should stay home to raise children.
A new report by non-profit organization PL+US (Paid Leave for the United States) identifies paid family leave policies at some of the biggest corporations across America, including a few food brands. Eater reached out to several restaurant companies not included in the report, but most were reticent to provide information on their policies.
Darden Restaurants
Darden brands include Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, The Capital Grille, Eddie V’s, and Yard House. Biological mothers, fathers, and adoptive parents are allowed two weeks of paid family leave, according to PL+US research.
Dunkin’ Brands
Dunkin’ Brands, parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin Robbins, was not listed in PL+US’s report. Justin Drake, senior manager of public relations at the company, tells Eater Dunkin’ does not have a paid family leave policy, and instead leaves it up to franchisees “who are solely responsible for making their own business decisions, including employment decisions such as schedules, wages, and benefits they offer their employees.”
McDonald’s
New biological mothers employed by McDonald’s receive 12 weeks off at 50 percent of their regular pay, according to PL+US. Fathers and adoptive parents do not receive paid time off.
Starbucks
Starbucks offers six weeks of paid leave for biological mothers and adoptive parents, but no paid leave is allowed for fathers, according to PL+US.
Yum! Brands
Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell fall under the Yum! Brands umbrella, and employees at these chains receive zero paid time off to have children, according to PL+US. In 2011, Yum! fought for a proposed Wisconsin law that limited paid sick leave in the state.
Union Square Hospitality Group
Good-guy restaurateur Danny Meyer sent shockwaves throughout the industry in September when he announced a paid family leave policy for his New York restaurant group. New biological mothers, fathers, and parents of adopted children receive four weeks of time off at 100 percent pay, followed by four weeks at 60 percent. Unfortunately, the policy does not extend to Meyer’s Shake Shack brand. Representatives for Shake Shack did not respond to requests for information on the company’s policy.
A representative for Panda Express tells Eater the company’s paid family leave policy varies by state, but did not provide further details. Representatives for CKE Restaurants (Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s, Red Burrito, Green Burrito), In-N-Out Burger, and Waffle House declined to share any information on their policies. Burger King, Chick-fil-A, and Chipotle Mexican Grill did not respond to multiple requests for information.
Some restaurant chains are progressing on this issue, but PL+US’s research reveals they mostly have ground to make up on many white-collar companies. America’s two major soda brands, The Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo, are among those leading the way. Coca-Cola is reportedly instituting a new policy on January 1, 2017, when it will allow six weeks of paid time off for all new parents, plus an additional six to eight weeks for biological mothers. Pepsi gives biological mothers 10 to 12 weeks of paid time off, and it allows four weeks for fathers and adoptive parents.
• Forging Ahead or Falling Behind? Paid Family Leave at America’s Top Companies [PL+US]
• Danny Meyer’s Restaurant Group Introduces Groundbreaking Parental Leave Plan [ENY]
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