Asda, the retail giant, has announced a’significant enhancement’ in its policies to support employees and their families during important life moments.
The new policies offer support for those who are navigating the family life, such as parenthood, caringgiving, or personal loss.
The pay for maternity and adoption leave will be increased so that employees who are paid per hour will now receive it for 26 instead of the current 12 weeks.
The company has extended paternity pay and leave to second-degree kinship caregivers.
A completely new policy will provide 26 weeks of paid leave for primary kinship caregivers.
Asda announced that it would enhance its current policy for employees who lose their pregnancy before the 24th week. This will provide them with two weeks of paid company leave.
The retailer announced the new policies on family leave earlier this year along with its investment of PS80m to increase the hourly rate for employees in stores.
Asda’s updated policy is available to all its 140,000 employees and provides enhanced support, flexibility and compassion over and above the usual statutory leave and payment.
The new benefits were developed in part as a result of consultations with Usdaw. Jayne Allport is the national officer of the union. She said: “We’re pleased that the company will provide valuable and additional support to our members at a time when they are most in need.” We are pleased that the company understands the needs of the parents and caregivers who work for them.
Helen Selby said, “These changes build on the progress that we’ve already made in the last year to support the heart of our business, our fantastic colleagues.”
Asda’s latest updates to its family-friendly policies come after the company launched a policy for neonatal leave in November 2024. This policy provides colleagues with extra leave and pay should their newborn require neonatal treatment.
Asda employees who have a newborn in neonatal treatment for at least seven days can take a maximum 12 weeks paid leave in addition to their maternity leave, paternity leave or adoption leave.
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