Levi Strauss steps up with important new addition to family-leave benefit

Levi Strauss & Co. is widening the scope of its family benefits program.

The denim and apparel giant announced a new paid family-leave benefit for all U.S. corporate and "benefits-eligible" retail employees. (Eligible employees are those who work at least 20 hours per week for home office or 30 hours per week in retail.)  It provides up to eight weeks of paid time off annually to care for an ill spouse, domestic partner, parent or stepparent, child or stepchild up to 18 years of age. The benefit expands Levi’s existing paid parental leave program, launched in 2016, which provides eight weeks of paid time off to welcome or care for a new child.

“We are introducing paid family leave to offer our employees the flexibility to care for ill family members without worrying about the stability of their job or finances,” said Chip Bergh, president and CEO of Levi Strauss & Co. “Access to paid family leave addresses the needs of the modern workforce and can help boost employee retention and loyalty. It’s not only the right thing to do for employees, it’s the smart thing to do for business.”

According to a Pew Research Center study, more than one in ten U.S. adults are caring for an aging parent or immediate family member at the same time they are raising their own children. This so-called “sandwich generation” is growing due to an increased aging population, greater prevalence of chronic diseases and geographically dispersed families. The National Business Group on Health reports that 88% of adult caregivers correlate the additional responsibility of tending to a sick family member with a negative impact on their own health, and 44% experience financial strain.

“We applaud Levi Strauss & Co.’s expansion of its industry-leading paid parental leave policy to include paid family leave for both its corporate and benefits-eligible hourly workers,” said Debra Ness, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families. “Levi Strauss & Co.’s CEO Chip Bergh and his leadership team understand that when working people can take the time they need to care for a loved one – whether it’s an aging family member or a new child – it’s good for business, workers and our economy.”

Levi Strauss products are sold in more than 110 countries worldwide through a combination of chain retailers, department stores, online sites, and a global footprint of approximately 3,000 retail stores and shop-in-shops.