Software organisation CA Technologies has introduced a new global paid parental leave policy for its 11,000 worldwide employees.
The parental leave policy, which launched today (Monday 2 July 2018), enables both male and female employees to take a minimum of 12 weeks of paid parental leave during the first 12 months following the birth or adoption of a child.
Eligible employees can opt to take a shorter period of leave, if they wish, and employees’ salaries and benefits will continue to be paid normally while they are on parental leave.
Employees are eligible to take the paid parental leave when they have completed 12 months of service at the date the child is born, or when an adopted child is matched or newly placed with an employee.
CA Technologies initially launched the paid parental leave policy in the US last year. It is now rolling the policy out across its operating sites in more than 40 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Asia Pacific, Japan, Latin America and North America.
The parental leave policy has been designed to help CA Technologies create an inclusive workplace culture, as well as position it as an employer of choice. The policy further forms part of CA Technologies’ commitment to encouraging and promoting gender parity at work, and contributes to its talent management strategy. This also includes leadership learning and development, unconscious bias training and flexible working.
The parental leave policy will operate alongside the organisation’s existing family-friendly benefits. This includes reimbursement for the shipment of milk for travelling mothers, gift bundles for new babies and pets, five days of bereavement leave for immediate family members and pet benefits, such as time off when an employee adopts a pet or when a pet passes away.
Gail Wilkinson, senior vice president, people at CA Technologies, said: “CA Technologies is delighted to announce the launch of this innovative and exciting new parent leave policy, which will enhance our existing broad range of family-friendly benefits.
“Equality, diversity and inclusion have a vital role to play in business success and this new policy, a first for the technology industry, will help drive an even greater level of gender balance across our global business while offering a more rewarding employee experience. The technology industry has particular gender parity challenges and we are confident that this new parent policy will also play a wider leadership role in promoting a more sustainable, prosperous and inclusive society.”