I'm about to become a father, and I am a seshain at a certain company.
I was able to confirm that my company does have a paternal leave policy of some kind, although every single person I talked to had a different story (including several who were surprised the company allows paternal leave at all). Everyone in the company works in different branches, has contracts with branches other than the one they work in, or is employed by an entirely different organization with the same chairman (my case).
There are at least two different options for paternal leave. One provides four weeks off that can be split in two parts, and the other I unfortunately no longer have documentation on (I was not allowed to keep the documentation provided by my immediate supervisor), but I think it was the same amount of time in a single block.
My immediate supervisor instructed me that I should use the company's online portal to apply for the two-block system, which suits my needs. I did that. The manager above my immediate supervisor approved my application. We talked about it in person that evening. No muss, no fuss.
The next day that manager tells me, while putting on my shoes to go home, that corporate management has informed him this was the wrong type of paternal leave, that my application is cancelled, and that more information might be provided on Monday, maybe, if they have time to meet the manager and he has time to meet my immediate supervisor and my immediate supervisor has time to meet me.
None of those people have any time for anything. That series of meetings will take weeks. I have about three until my child will be born.
I am seriously considering bypassing the whole thing and asking the Labor Department what they think of my company's policies.
Does anyone have different experiences for comparison?
by quequotion