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Fast food restaurant organisation Yum! Brands, which includes KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, has expanded its paid parental leave policy for US-based staff.

The organisation has extended its parental leave policy for birth mothers to 18 weeks at full pay, including six weeks of ‘baby bonding’ time. The enhanced policy allows birth fathers, partners, adoptive parents and foster parents to take six weeks of ‘baby bonding’ leave at full pay.

US employees at Yum! Brands, KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell head offices and restaurant staff directly employed by the organisation are eligible for the enhanced parental leave policy, which is effective immediately.

The enhanced paid parental leave policy will run alongside Yum! Brands' current benefit offering, which is designed to demonstrate a people-first culture. This includes 24/7 year-round access to a doctor, half-days on Fridays, a minimum of four weeks' paid holiday leave, plus an additional two bonus weeks for employees celebrating 10, 20 or 30 years of service, financial support for adoption services and infertility treatments, autism support services, daycare facilities and wellness programmes.

Tracy Skeans, chief transformation and people officer at Yum! Brands, said: “As we transform Yum! Brands into a more growth-focused brand builder and global franchisor, investing in our unrivaled culture while engaging and attracting talent is a top priority.

“This expanded parental time off and baby bonding benefit builds on our strong legacy of investing in our people and culture to fuel great results and continuously providing meaningful ways to help our employees be and contribute their best at work and at home.”