Mobile Service Provider Vodacom has announced all its employees regardless of gender will be eligible for a four months paid parenting leave.
Traditionally companies used to offer female employees parenting leave for a minimum three months.
Vodacom announced that any employee whose partner was having a baby, adopted a child or became a parent through surrogacy would have the option to take up to 16 weeks paid leave at any time during the first 18 months as parenting leave.
“The move is derived from Vodacom’s new leave policy, which is designed to support families by giving every parent the opportunity to have more time with children new to their family. Under the new leave policy, employees will also be able to phase their return from parental leave by working the equivalent of a 30-hour week at full pay for a further two months,” Vadacom said.
Chief human resources officer for Vodacom Group Matimba Mbungela said as a company with strong local roots, diversity and inclusion were core to the company’s beliefs and purpose and the company is happy to support families by giving parents time with their children.
“We are proud to support all families by giving every parent the opportunity to have more time with their children, without worrying about the impact on their finances or careers. The new parental leave policy further underlines our strong commitment to diversity and gender equality and will make a significant difference to thousands of Vodacom employees, particularly in markets where there is little or no legal requirement to give equal support for both parents,” Mbungela said.
In March 2015, the communications company started a maternity policy, offering women across all its markets and operations six months fully paid maternity leave and a 30-hour week at full pay for the first six months after their return to work.
The network service provider also launched the ReConnect programme in 2017 to attract talented women who have left the workplace for several years – often to parent children or raise a family – who want to return to work but are struggling to make the professional connections needed or refresh the skills required.
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