Excellent article. Cisco's new policy has been a game changer for parents. I am a recent dad myself and one of the early beneficiaries of the longer time possible in Silicon Valley. In today's day and age its not possible make only the mom responsible for care even in the early days. Three recommendations - First: The policy should allow flexibility on when the leave is taken. A lot of big tech companies in Silicon Valley now offer 13 weeks of paternity and that is flexible over the first years instead of rigidly making it the first 13 weeks after birth. Second: In the father's context it should be renamed 'paternity leave' instead of anything else. These leaves should take effect even if both parents work for Cisco (parents I know both work for Cisco and they did not benefit from this which is unfair). Third: There should be a formal oversight committee so that parents (note that fathers may not be protected by law and mothers may face issues even if protected by law) do not suffer professionally from these leaves.