Drink and brewing business AB InBev has introduced an enhanced parental leave policy for its 13,500 employees in the UK and Europe to include leave allowance increases for primary and secondary caregivers.
Effective from this month (November), all primary caregivers staff will be entitled to paid leave increase from 16 to 26 weeks, while secondary caregivers will see a rise from two to four weeks. The new leave allowances will represent European minimums and have the potential to be increased on a market-by-market basis.
In addition, it is also introducing an enhanced return to work programme in order to offer more returning parents greater flexibility when going back to work. This will include offering a special ramp-on period of eight weeks for staff with 100% of payment for 75% of working time.
According to the organisation, this represents part of its wider diversity and inclusion commitments to become a more inclusive workplace, to work towards gender parity, to improve work-life balance and to strengthen its partnership with employees.
Jason Warner, zone president of Europe at AB InBev, believes that as a company that is committed to diversity and inclusion, it has not only a responsibility but an opportunity to support staff through important life events, and will continue to drive change and make a positive impact across the workforce and wider industry.
He explained that he understands becoming a parent is an “exciting but sometimes overwhelming time”, and it is “immensely important” that all families feel supported throughout this experience, as staff are the organisation’s “biggest strength”.
“The new measures were implemented after extensive benchmarking and listening sessions with employees as well as their managers. We really hope the changes give new parents the time they need to build that crucial bond with their children before coming back to work,” Warner said.