Diageo, world’s largest producer of spirits and a key producer of beer, has adopted a new family leave policy applicable to employees across its business, as part of its leading work to create a fully inclusive and diverse workforce, company informed today.
The announcement was made by Ivan Menezes, Diageo’s Chief Executive at Diageo’s investor conference in New York today.
While Diageo is setting a global minimum standard of four weeks paternity leave on full rate of pay in all markets, a significant number of Diageo’s businesses will move to 26 weeks fully paid paternity leave including North America, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, Russia, Colombia, Venezuela, and Australia amongst others.
The new global policy offers women employees a minimum of 26 weeks of fully paid maternity leave and a minimum standard of four weeks paternity leave on full rate of pay in all markets.
In India this means 26 weeks of fully paid maternity leave which is also mandated by local laws and an enhanced 4 weeks of fully paid paternity leave, company said.
The business hopes the policy will support employees to focus on the joy of raising a young family, while continuing to thrive at work, and ensuring women and men are supported to have time with their new baby regardless of where they live and work.
Aarif Aziz, Chief HR Officer at Diageo India said, “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.”
Mairéad Nayager, Chief HR Officer at Diageo says, “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 society. Global businesses like Diageo must make bold moves on policies and the environments in which their employees work to ensure that the progress people deserve happens.”
The new policy will go live in most countries at the start of Diageo’s new financial year i.e. from the 1st July 2019, with further countries to implement the policy over the course of the year.
Diageo’s commitment to creating an inclusive and diverse working environment has been recognised by the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index in 2019.
