The company is setting an important trend

Microsoft, the tech giant founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, announced that the company and all its business partners will offer paid family leave to its employees. This means that from suppliers to landscapers, individuals who do “substantial work” for Microsoft will be given a minimum of 12 weeks paid parental leave, coming up to $1,000 per week. Danielle Paquette at The Washington Post writes, “Analysts say it’s a first for large American firms, which often outsource culinary, housekeeping and receptionist work to contractors that may not supply paid leave.”

The multibillion-dollar company will only work with service providers who offer these benefits to employees, if they have more than 50 employees. Microsoft is also prepared to assist business partners with this requirement by helping to pay the costs.

Paquette also reported, “Abby McCloskey, a conservative economist who has studied the issue, said Microsoft is sending the message that paid family leave should be a core worker benefit and not just a perk to lure top talent.”

Dev Stahlkopf, corporate vice president and general counsel at Microsoft, expressed in a blog post that their motivation is the well-being of their employees because they have long understood that to be fundamental for the company’s success.