As healthcare costs rise, companies are looking at ways to reduce employee benefits, including paid parental leave. Zoom Communications has made changes to its parental leave policy, allowing employees who give birth to 18 weeks of paid leave, down from 22 to 24 weeks previously. The change is expected as employers set their 2027 budgets and deal with rising healthcare costs. Benefits consultants believe these programs are too important a benefit to working parents. However, changes may have limited impact on the organization as parental leave is used by a relatively small portion of the workforce.