Toy manufacturer Lego Group is to enhance its global paid parental leave policy for primary caregivers, offering over 18,000 employees 26 weeks of parental leave.
From 1 November 2020, employees who become parents through childbirth or adoption will be entitled to the organisation’s minimum global standard of paid childcare leave, dependant on where they are based with a transition to the full 26 weeks of paternity leave by 2022.
The new policy is part of its sustainability ambition, where the employer aims to improve life at work for its employees with the policy applying to all employees globally regardless of local minimum requirements. Secondary caregivers will also be able to access eight weeks of paid childcare leave.
The organisation recognises that certain locations will require different implementation dates due to local conditions, so these changes will be implemented gradually over the next two years.
Lego Group will also introduce a caregiver leave policy, giving employees the opportunity to take four weeks of paid leave to look after their loved ones, as well as providing permanent life assurance and disability insurance for staff globally. The employer plans to release more details on this in the coming months.
Additionally, from 1 November, employees can take up to two weeks of paid leave if an immediate family member or loved one needs care as a result of a serious accident or illness. Lego Group plans to increase this to four weeks by the end of 2022.
Loren Shuster, chief people officer at Lego Group, said: “Our commitment to the greater good of children must begin at home, with the families of employees. No matter what shape or form the family has, it is important to us that we provide a workplace that allows our staff and their families to thrive.
“Children’s early experiences, the bonds they form with their parents and their first learning experiences, deeply affect their future physical, cognitive, emotional and social development. Children are at the heart of everything we do at Lego Group, and we want to ensure new parents can dedicate themselves to their children at this important stage of their lives.
“With these initiatives, we hope our employees experience they are part of a workplace that allows their families to thrive.”