Danone North America announced this week that it is expanding its gender-neutral Parental Bonding Leave policy to include all of its employees, including its frontline manufacturing employees. According to a release, this parental leave benefit is now available to all the companys 5,700 U.S. employees, whether they work in an office or in one of Danones 14 manufacturing facilities across the country.

The policy, which went into effect this week, made it possible all employees at the company to take up to 18 weeks paid time off after the birth or adoption of their child. Previous to this policy expansion, time off for parental leave was based off of local legislation or location-specific business standards.

"We are proud to support all our Danone parents, of all genders, in our factories and our offices, as they bond with their newest family member," said Shane Grant, CEO at Danone North America. "Our hope is that we will inspire others and help advance parental leave equity outside our walls as well."

According to the National Partnership for Women and Families, as few as 9% of U.S. companies offer paid paternity leave to male employees.