EEOC files suit against Estée Lauder for sex discrimination based on its paid parental leave program which granted less paid leave to fathers than to mothers. Although the company graciously provided new mothers an additional six weeks of paid parental leave for child bonding, they ran afoul of the law when they only gave new fathers two weeks of paid leave for child bonding. The policy also supposedly provides new mothers with flexible return-to-work benefits that are not similarly provided to new fathers. EEOC Washington Acting Director Mindy Weinstein states that federal law requires equal pay, including benefits, for equal work, and that applies to men as well as women.” Companies need to be mindful of not making distinctions, whether intentional or not, when creating their own employee benefits and policies. Read more about this issue If you have questions about implications related to your parental leave policies, contact Radha Thiagarajan, Employment Law Practice, KPPB LAW.