I work for a company in the state Washington as a remote employee. I have previously had no complaints about them as they have been very kind, but I just recently reached out to HR about getting my upcoming paternity time setup. My wife and I are expecting our third child. When I changed jobs, I purposely made sure to ask about their paternity leave and was informed that they offered twelve weeks paid (PAID!). I was over the moon and it was a strong selling point for this position over other offers I received.
HR reached out to inform me that, even though it’s in the company handbook that I had to read and sign, they don’t actually offer paternity time and that they are currently working on a new handbook that will “clarify” that what they meant is that they “allow their employees to use FMLA for 12 weeks.”
I have purposely not taken vacations over the past year out of respect for the company because we have an “unlimited PTO policy,” but I wanted to be respectful since I was going to be out for twelve weeks in the fall.
I am absolutely devastated. I got one week off for my first two children. I was desperately excited to spend twelve weeks with my newborn. Bonding and getting to know them in a way I missed out on with the other kids. I am so tired of how all these companies are the same. It’s just lies and BS.