In a bid to foster gender equality, diversity, and inclusivity at the workplace, Diageo India has announced a 26-week paid leave to white-collar employees of all genders and sexual orientations. The leave policy is applicable to those entering parenthood through biological conception, surrogacy, or adoption.
Previously, the leave policy offered by the alcohol beverage company were as per the government rule with 26 weeks of paid maternity leave, and four weeks of paternity leave. This was offered for the birth of a child through biological conception, surrogacy, and adoption. However, this new amendment to the ‘Family Leave Policy’ will add Diageo India to the small pool of companies like Zomato, Hewlett Packard Enterprises, and Novartis, offering employees the same benefits.
According to the policy, new fathers/second parents can avail of the leave, which encompasses all benefits and bonuses, anytime within 12 months of the birth or adoption of the child. The new policy became effective from July 30, 2021. The benefits are available to the company’s 1,600-strong white-collar workforce. However, the same does not apply to those working on the factory shop floors.
In a statement to Business Today, Chief Human Resources Officer Aarif Aziz, said, “The policy has two pieces to it. It says that as a father you play an equal role in bringing up the child and sharing the load with the mother. The second is appreciating that people who identify themselves as LGBTQ may also want to go down the path of parenthood.”