Microsoft to Require Its Suppliers, Contractors to Give Paid Family Leave

Software company wants vendors to offer their employees benefits similar to Microsoft workers’

Microsoft Corp. will soon require its suppliers and contractors to provide at least 12 weeks of paid time off to new parents, the software giant said Thursday.

The policy applies to Microsoft vendors with more than 50 employees and covers workers given substantial assignments for Microsoft. For example, a staffing agency that provides information-technology professionals to Microsoft and other clients would only have to cover employees assigned to Microsoft. It will impact thousands of workers around the country, the company...