Global health organisation Reckitt Benckiser (RB) has announced that it will be enhancing parental leave for its 40,000 employees.
The new leave policy, which was announced on 3 December 2019, will be available to all staff except those based in the US, regardless of the number of hours an employee works, as long as they have been in employment for at least one year.
To promote inclusion within the organisation, the enhancement is available to birthing or non-birthing, same-sex, foster and adoptive parents.
All new mothers will be entitled to 26 weeks of paid leave, an increase of 10 weeks, with the option to take a further 26 unpaid. Paternity leave will increase to four weeks of paid leave with a further four weeks unpaid.
Parents of premature babies will see paid maternity leave increased by the number of weeks between the date of birth and 37th week, with parental leave at full pay during this time.
The enhanced benefit is part of RB's Freedom to Succeed strategy, which includes providing more than 100 wellness suites where new mothers can breastfeed, as well as free breast pumps if required. To integrate returning mothers back into the workplace, they will have access to a mentor for six months.
Gurveen Singh, chief HR officer at RB, said: “At RB we have a clear ethos about giving our employees the Freedom to Succeed, in and outside of work. That means helping all employees, both male and female, to take a more significant part in their child’s early years while we reduce the stress and uncertainty that often surrounds parental leave.
"We are committed to delivering on our promise to improve support for new parents transitioning back to work in the communities where we live and work. As an industry leader, RB remains committed to further breakthroughs in parental benefits.”
