IKEA To Give Employees Up To 4 Months Paid Parental Leave

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. (CBS) -- IKEA US is expanding their parental leave policy, giving their employees up to four months of paid parental leave when they welcome a new child into their family.

According to the company website, IKEA US currently offers new parents one week of paid maternity/paternity leave for the birth or adoption of a child.

IKEA came up with the policy after doing research on what workers believed were the most important aspects of the "American Dream." Work-life balance and family time were at the top of the list.

Birth mothers and fathers, as well as adoptive and foster parents will all be able to take advantage of the benefit.

The new policy will take effect Jan. 1, 2017 and will apply to both hourly and salaried workers.

Employees who have been with IKEA for more than one year can take up to three months of paid leave when they are expanding their family -- receiving full pay for the first six weeks and half of their pay for an additional six weeks.

Employees who have been at the company for three or more years are eligible to take up to four months -- receiving full pay for the first eight weeks and half of their pay for an additional eight weeks.

And for those employees who aren't expecting or adopting a child, IKEA is also rolling out a sabbatical program to allow their workers to "take time to refresh and engage in personal and professional growth and development."