EXCLUSIVE: DLA Piper is offering an enhanced shared parental leave (SPL) policy for its 2,100 employees.
The global law firm has also increased its maternity benefits from 14 weeks on full pay, followed by statutory pay until the 39th week, to 22 weeks on full pay.
Its enhanced SPL policy matches its maternity provision.
Undr the shared parental leave regulations, which came into effect on 5 April, new parents can share 50 weeks of leave between them during their child’s first year.
The leave is available to employees at DLA Piper who are a new mother or father, or the partner or husband of the mother including same sex partners. It also applies to adoptive parents.
DLA Piper also offers its 80 working parents and carers a family resource group.
The initiative, launched in October 2014, can be attended by parents, grandparents, expectant parents and grandparents, adopters, or carers to network with one another and share parenting tips.
The group is a chance for staff to attend lunchtime seminars with one of its charity partners, the NSPCC, about issues they may face.
DLA Piper hosted a session in April 2015 on internet safety for parents, which 25 staff attended.
It is also planning to hold a session in the summer called ‘ditch the guilt’, to give working parents insight into internet safety and discipline with their children.
Mitra Janes, diversity and inclusion manager at DLA Piper, said: “We are committed to recognising that there are many challenges for working parents, which is why we aim to support them in any way we can.
“We also understand that elements of working parents’ professional roles and home life can create conflict with one another.
“This is why we want to challenge the stereotype that being physically present in a child’s life is solely down to the mother.
“We are progressive and want to improve career prospects for women from this policy.”