Male Facebook employees in Ireland are to be able to avail of four months of paid paternity leave following the birth of their children.
The social network has changed its policies for full-time employees of both genders around the world who are new parents, beginning from 1 January.
The move will primarily benefit new fathers and people in same-sex relationships outside the US, but will not alter the existing maternity leave currently available to all employees worldwide.
"In reviewing our parental leave policies, we have decided to make this change because it's the right thing to do for our people and their families," said Lori Goler, Vice President of Human Resources and Recruiting at Facebook in a blog post.
"Studies show that when working parents take time to be with their newborns, outcomes are better for the children and families.
"For too long, paid baby leave has been granted only to a mother who is giving birth.
"We believe that fathers and mothers alike deserve the same level of support when they are starting and growing a family, regardless of how they define family."
The new policy will also be available to anyone who adopted a baby in 2015 if they were Facebook employees at the time.
The leave can be taken at any stage within a year of when the baby is born.
Earlier this week Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg said he would take two months paternity leave when his daughter is born.
