Asda announced today a major enhancement to their family-friendly policies, which will benefit all employees. This will strengthen the support that the retailer provides during important life moments.
Asda’s updated policy is open to all of its 140,000 employees and offers enhanced flexibility and compassion over and above the standard statutory leave and payment. These policies are designed to help those who have to navigate family life. This includes parenthood, caring for others, and dealing with personal loss.
- Increasing company maternity and adoption leave pay for hourly colleagues, from 12 weeks to 26 weeks.
- Doubling the duration from two weeks to four weeks at full contractual pay, as well as extending company paternity leave and pay to secondary kinship carers.
- Introduction of a brand-new policy, providing 26 weeks company leave and pay for primary kinship carers for those caring for other children.
- Enhancing our existing policy to provide two weeks company paid leave for those who experience pregnancy loss before 24 weeks.
Earlier this year, the retailer announced the new policies on family leave and its investment of PS80m to increase the hourly rate for employees in stores.
Helen Selby said, “We are proud to introduce new and enhanced policies that support a family-friendly workplace. This demonstrates our commitment to fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment. We want to support our colleagues during the most difficult and important moments of their lives. These changes build on our progress over the past year to support the heart of our business, our amazing colleagues .”
Jayne Allport, Usdaw National Officer, says: “Following on-going discussions between Asda, and Usda, we are delighted that the company has committed itself to providing valuable additional support for our Members when they most need it.” We are pleased that Asda values parents and carers who work for them, and understands the needs of these workers in balancing their life and work .”
Asda’s latest updates to its family-friendly policies come in the form of a new policy on neonatal leave, which will be implemented by November 2024. This policy provides colleagues with extra leave and pay should their newborn require neonatal treatment. Asda employees with babies in neonatal treatment for seven full days or longer can take up to 12 weeks paid leave in addition to their maternity leave, paternity leave or adoption leave.
HR News published the original article Asda colleagues benefit from major improvements to family leave benefits.
