Yeah — if the end result is “a parent is able to stay home with the child for six months,” that’s still a net benefit for their child and family unit.

He probably shouldn’t be telling coworkers about this plan, but the decision about which parent is providing care during infancy should be up to the parents themselves.

(Especially if his wife couldn’t afford to take the unpaid leave otherwise.)

I don’t see this as an HR violation or a need to “tighten up the rules.” But he was indiscreet in talking about it to a coworker.

I think that the LW being a new mom who didn’t get to benefit from the expanded leave is definitely a factor, and I wish the company had provided some compensatory leave for recent parents.