Amazon Is Taking a Page From Netflix and Microsoft, Offering Paid Leave for New Fathers

Amazon (AMZN), the world's biggest retailer, is offering sweeter benefits for new parents. Mothers are now able to take some 20 weeks of leave with pay, an increase from 8 weeks. Plus, new parents, irrespective of gender, can take 6 weeks of paid leave - a significant development for Amazon which did not previously provide paid paternity leave. The changes take effect on January 1st, but includes babies born or adopted after October 1st. Amazon is following the likes of other tech giants like Netflix (NFLX) and Microsoft (MSFT), which offer paid leave for fathers. New fathers at Netflix can take one year off and 12 weeks at Microsoft. The changes in policies at Amazon come after a scathing report in the New York Times in August, which criticized Amazon's workplace culture. TheStreet’s Scott Gamm has details from New York.