Ikea Giving Some Employees Four Months Paid Parental Leave

(CNNMoney) Ikea is significantly increasing the amount of paid parental leave to up to four months for some employees.

Ikea said that, starting on Jan. 1, 2017, employees who have been there for at least one year will get 6 weeks of leave at full pay, followed by another six weeks at half pay.

Employees who have been there at least three years will get eight weeks at full pay, followed by another eight weeks at half pay.

Under the current system, Ikea parents are eligible for five days of paid leave, and six to eight weeks of short-term disability. The length of disability leave depends on the type of birth: six weeks for vaginal and eight weeks for cesarean section.

Workers could still be eligible for the short-term disability under the new system.

Ikea said parents would also be eligible for 12 weeks of unpaid time off, if they choose to take it.

The Swedish company, which is the largest furniture retailer in the world, said the parental leave benefits apply to birth mothers and also fathers, as well as adoptive and foster parents. It applies to salaried and hourly workers.