Roofing CEO bolsters family-leave policy

Joy Seitz, CEO of Scottsdale-based American Solar & Roofing, is joining the ranks of Seattle-based minimum wage advocates by making bold moves with the company's family-leave policy.

The residential roofing and solar services company is now extending one month of paid family leave to its employees, placing it among the 17% of U.S. employers that offer any level of paid family leave.

“I wanted to be part of the solution,” said Seitz, who was partially inspired by the controversy that ensued when New York Mets baseball player Daniel Murphy missed the two first games of the season to be with his newborn son. “I felt the backlash he got was wrong, and I wanted to do something about it as a company, so we decided to break from convention.”

Among the first of American Solar & Roofing's employees to take advantage of the new policy is Johnny Campos, a construction superintendant. 

“It meant a lot to me to be home after she was born,” says Campos. “To have that time with her was priceless. For me, it shows the kind of company that I work for; one that values family.”

“We want to give our employees the opportunity to bond with their children and to support their spouses during such a special time in life. That’s really important to us, and it makes our company even better,” added Seitz.