The birth of a child is one of life’s most precious moments. For new parents, a child’s first weeks are uplifting, exhilarating and exhausting. These emotions can be intensified if you don’t have the benefit of taking time off from work to care for and bond with your new child.
As the number of dual-income households continues to rise, men are increasingly sharing in childcare duties. However, many lack the option to take adequate paternity leave when welcoming a new child. Halma’s equal and paid global parental leave policy — which gives 14 weeks of full paid leave for births, surrogacy and adoptions, to both mothers and fathers — was designed with these evolving family roles in mind.
Open to all its 7,000+ employees in over 20 countries — regardless of their gender, their sexual orientation (where allowed by law), or the market in which they live or work.
In the year following its launch, more than 130 employees across the Group have used Halma’s equal paid global parental leave policy, most of them being men.
Laurent and Jonathan from Halma company BEA, a manufacturer of sensing solutions for automatic door systems, are two of the many fathers who have embraced this enhanced level of support from their company. They recognise the tremendous value of having more time to bond with their new family and to share in the joys and responsibilities of childcare. They also acknowledge the importance of a workplace culture that encourages and supports fathers in taking time off.
Studies suggest that providing paid parental leave for men and encouraging men to take the leave available to them, has profound effects on their relationships, their partner’s wellbeing, and their child’s development. It is also vital to improving equity for women and levelling the playing field for both genders. Sharing childcare responsibilities means that mothers have the flexibility to return to work without having to sacrifice career, pension and earnings potential.
Halma’s equal paid parental leave policy is one of the ways we’re addressing the gender gap, removing career impediments for mothers so we can have a more gender-balanced workforce.
Societal norms about what is expected of fathers in the workplace and at home is changing. At Halma we’re proud to give parents the flexibility to put family first, and to advance a fairer, more inclusive and equitable future for everyone, every day.
Watch below to learn more about their stories.
