Diageo India, the leading beverage company which manufactures and distributes brands such as Johnnie Walker, Black Dog, etc. announced on 30st of July about its new ‘Family Leave Policy. According to this policy, a 26-week paid leave will be granted to white-collar employees irrespective of their genders and sexual orientations.
Headquartered in Bengaluru with a huge team of over 3500 enthusiastic employees, 50 manufacturing facilities across the nation, and a strong network the company promotes responsible alcohol consumption. The beverage alcohol company distributes some of the most well-known brands such as – Johnnie Walker, Signature, Royal Challenge, McDowell’s No.1, Captain Morgan, etc. to promote diversity and equality at the workplace introduced the 26-week paid leave for its employees. Surrogate/adoptive/biological parents across all genders can avail of this policy. New biological fathers or adoptive parents can also avail the leave, unlike before. The new policy comprises all the benefits and bonuses which can be availed within 12 months of the baby’s birth or adoption of the child.
Before this announcement, a 26 week paid maternity leave was given only to biological mothers and four weeks of paternity leave for biological conception, adoption, and surrogacy as per the government rules. With the introduction of a more practical and relevant policy according to today’s times, Diageo has really taken a step above. Companies like Zomato, Hewlett Packard Enterprises, and Novartis are also some companies that offer similar 26 weeks of paid paternity leave.
However this policy is only applicable for the white-collar employees, the factory laborers and other workforce do not come under this policy.
Arif Aziz, the Chief Human Resources Office, in a conversation with Business Today, commented on the same topic. He 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”
It is applauding to see big companies being gender-inclusive, as it is the need of the hour. Through this policy, the conventional norms are being challenged and questioned which allows the parents to have a stable career alongside enjoying parenthood.
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