Netflix’s Extraordinary Parental Leave Was Part of Its Culture. That’s Over.
Netflix made headlines nearly a decade ago when it pledged to give new parents unlimited time off in their child's first year. More staffers than expected took full advantage of the benefit, which Netflix found unsustainable. The company has spent the last few years walking back the policy. Netflix's new mindset of cost-consciousness has aided its recovery from a sluggish period. The long-term risk for Netflix is that the characteristics that made its workplace distinct will erode, making it harder to attract and retain talent.