Global health organization Reckitt Benckiser (RB) has announced a new parental leave policy for its 40,000 employees globally. The new leave policy, which was announced on 3 December 2019, will be available to all staff regardless of the number of hours an employee works, as long as they have been in employment for at least one year.
The new policy extends paid maternity and paternity leave for families of all kinds, providing employees with the Freedom to Succeed. It also actively supports new and breastfeeding mothers with the launch of 100+ workplace Wellness Suites.
The new policy provides more time together for new families
- Extends paid maternity leave from 16 weeks to 26 weeks with the option to take a further 26 unpaid.
- Increases paternity leave for new fathers and partners to four weeks paid leave with the option to take a further four weeks unpaid.
- Provides extra support for parents of premature babies by increasing paid maternity leave by the number of full weeks between the date of birth and 37th week. It also allows the flexibility for additional paternity leave at full pay in this event.
Supporting mothers with ‘Wellness Suites and Mentorship’
RB is supporting new and breastfeeding mothers returning to work, with the launch of 100+ new wellness suites worldwide. These comfortable and pleasant spaces will give new mums the room and privacy they need to rest, express milk and maximize their ability to breastfeed. RB will provide free breast pumps if needed. Should they wish, returning mothers will also have access to a mentor for six months.
Equal rights for all new families
RB announces that today’s families come in all shapes and sizes, so the same principles apply to all LGBTQ+ employees, as well as and including adopting and surrogacy families.
This leave is awarded regardless of the number of hours an employee works, providing they have been in continuous RB employment for 12 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” she added.
