Found out my company's mat/pat leave policy was....poor. I have sent an email to the co-founders pointing out that is, you know, maybe a contributing factor to why women don't want to work here.
I was more diplomatic than that; but I am nervous about potential outcomes.
@math_foo I have gotten 2 different companies to improve mat/pat policy through firm but diplomatic nagging. Best of luck to you in your efforts.
N.B. My situations may be unlike yours and difficult to replicate: both companies were startups with <200 people, I had a position of some status, and in each case multiple people, including myself, both men and women, were going to need that mat/pat leave within about a 6 month window. I had a little leverage.
@dwenius I am at a startup with just over 200 people. I don't need it (and never plan to) and do have some social capital to spend here. So, it is encouraging to hear that someone else in a reasonably similar situation has had success.
@math_foo I managed to work with people who could-- with some guidance-- appreciate that the first weeks and months of bonding with a child were always, always going to be more important than whatever we were madly rushing to ship and sell. I see from reading the general industry press that this is NOT a universal perspective among startup founders and boards. Good luck to you.