To state the obvious: When you mess with people’s rights, sh*t gets real. And there are IRL consequences when you get the balance wrong.

Managing all of this takes time and brain power. You’re contacting the employee, looking up policy details, doing unconfident math, and trying to figure out payroll work-arounds. The lost productivity cancels out the amount you’re saving by relying on these outside subsidies. Meanwhile, the new parent thinks it’s all your fault and blames you for the terrible experience you’re putting them through.

I get that it’s expensive to pay someone not to work for several months, but there are strong business reasons why you should do it anyway. 

Your organization isn’t a spreadsheet. You can’t just delete the cells with numbers you don’t like.