Consumer health organisation Haleon has launched an equal parental leave policy to coincide with its first day as an independent business, following its demerger from GlaxoSmithKline.
On its first day of trading on the London Stock Exchange, 18 July 2022, the business announced that its 22,000-plus members of staff across 170 markets, regardless of their gender or sexuality, would be entitled to 26 weeks of fully paid parental leave effective from 1 January 2023. This will cover biological birth, surrogacy and adoption.
According to Haleon, the initiative was introduced to help it become an employer of choice in the consumer health sector, and as part of its broader diversity, equity and inclusion strategy. The business cited a commitment to give equal opportunities for all of its employees to focus on raising a family, while safe in the knowledge that their careers can continue to flourish.
Mairéad Nayager, chief HR officer at Haleon, said: “Haleon has a compelling purpose to deliver better everyday health with humanity, and what better way to live this purpose than to support colleagues at an important time in their lives.
“This is a market leading parental leave policy and is central to Haleon’s ambition of creating an inclusive and diverse workforce and supporting our colleagues to thrive both within their family environment and at work. I am so proud that we can announce this policy on the birth date of Haleon!”