Diageo, the British multinational beverages company, has announced a new family leave policy, which is applicable to its employees across businesses. In order to make its workplace fully inclusive and diverse the new policy allows women to take a minimum of 26 weeks of paid maternity leave and also offers a minimum standard of four weeks paid paternity leave to the men.
The new policy will help employees experience the joy of raising their families while continuing to thrive professionally. It will bring happiness to men and women at work, as they can now spend time with their babies regardless of wherever they live and work.
Diageo has set a minimum standard of four weeks of paternity leave globally, on full rate of pay in all markets. However, a significant amount of its business will move to 26 weeks of fully-paid paternity leave including North America, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, Russia, Colombia, Venezuela and Australia amongst others. There are very few companies that take inclusiveness to this level. Diageo has made a start and perhaps is setting new standards for other companies.
Ivan Menezes, CEO of Diageo made this announcement at the Company’s investor conference in New York. This news follows the previous announcement, which was made last month, where all new parents employed by Diageo in the UK are now eligible for the same fully-paid 26 weeks, retaining benefits and bonuses, regardless of gender.
Following this announcement, Aarif Aziz, CHRO, Diageo India shares, “Our aim is to make Diageo a great place to work in India, one that is inclusive and progressive. We know that flexibility at work is proven to create happier, more loyal and more productive workforces. Today’s announcement is about matching ambition with action and supporting all of our colleagues to experience the joys of parenthood, while continuing to thrive at work and achieve their true potential.”
The new policies rolled out by Diageo will come into effect in most countries from the starting of the financial year, that is, 1 July 2019, while others will implement the policy in the course of the year.
“We are committed to creating a fully inclusive and diverse workforce and we strongly believe that businesses play a significant role in shaping the future of the society. Global businesses, such as Diageo must make bold moves on policies and the environments in which their employees work to ensure that the progress people deserve happens,” says Mairéad Nayager, CHRO, Diageo.
Diageo was recognised by Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index in 2019, for its commitment to make its workplace diversified and inclusive. Thomson Reuters also ranked Diageo as the fourth most diverse and inclusive company in the world.