Lowenstein Sandler, a national law firm with over 400 lawyers, today announced a groundbreaking parental leave policy. The new policy will permit employees whose newborns require an extended stay in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to receive an extension of paid parental leave proportional to the length of the NICU stay, up to eight additional weeks.
The policy is designed to ensure that parents do not have to exhaust their paid parental leave while their baby remains hospitalized, only to return to work shortly after finally bringing their baby home.
Grounded in the understanding that time spent caring for a hospitalized newborn is fundamentally different from the time parents need to bond with and care for their baby at home, Lowenstein's policy places the firm at the forefront of the legal industry in supporting families during the most critical stages of a child's early life.
The policy was born out of Lowenstein’s Women’s Initiative Network (WIN), a firm group that supports and empowers women lawyers to achieve professional and personal success. Earlier this year, WIN members brought the idea to Donatella Verrico, Lowenstein’s Chief People Officer, who championed the proposal with the firm’s Operating Committee, which approved it.
“This policy reflects something we believe strongly: NICU families deserve the best possible support during an extraordinarily difficult and uncertain time,” said Donatella Verrico, Chief People Officer at Lowenstein. “We’re proud to formalize that support for all members of our community as a continuation of Lowenstein’s longstanding commitment to working parents.”
“Supporting our people through major life events is part of who we are and is embedded in so many of our core values, from being boldly innovative to purposefully connected to generous by nature,” said Jonathan C. Wishnia, Managing Partner of Lowenstein. “When WIN identified a need, our Operating Committee was thrilled at their ingenuity and provided support without hesitation.”
About Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Lowenstein Sandler LLP is a national law firm with over 400 lawyers based in New York, Palo Alto, Roseland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Wilmington. The firm represents leaders in virtually every sector of the global economy, with particular emphasis on investment funds, life sciences, and technology. Recognized for its entrepreneurial spirit and high standard of client service, the firm is committed to the interests of its clients, colleagues, and communities.
