Hewlett Packard India extends its 6 month paid parental leave to fathers as well

• Hewlett Packard Enterprises (HP) India has extended its 26-week parental leave policy to fathers too.
  
• Earlier, the policy included merely a five-days parental leave.
  
• With this, it plans to increase the workforce in India by 20% over the next five years.
• It will also allow employees to work part-time for three years following the adoption or birth of the child.

Hewlett Packard (HP) India is giving new fathers the same number of parental leaves as mothers.

The company said that its 26-weeks paid parental leave will now be applicable to both men and women — for childbirth and adoption. It also includes the facilitation of day-care centres across locations in India — which is eligible for children upto three years of age.

The company extended parental leaves to six months in April 2019. Earlier, the policy included merely a five-days parental leave.

The company aims to implement a culture of inclusivity to increase its employee retention rate. With this, it plans to increase the workforce in India by 20% over the next five years.

“The benefits we are implementing around the globe reflect HPE’s commitment to attracting, nurturing and retaining the best talent in India,” HPE India VP and managing director Som Satsangi told news agency PTI.

At HPE we are not only creating jobs, but also helping employees build long-term careers with the necessary support structure and working culture,” he added.

In fact, the company allows its employees to work part-time for three years following the adoption or birth of the child.

Overall, paid parental maternity leaves increased by 8% during 2016-18, according to a study published by SHRM.

It provides other employee benefits like life insurance and health insurance cover. From November 2019, the company will increase the insurance cover to twice the annual compensation of its employees.

Indian startups like Zomato have also stepped up their efforts to establish work-life balance. It recently introduced the 26-week paid parental leave policy for its male and female employees — including same sex partners.

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Zomato announces a 26-week paid leave for parents of all genders, sexualities – $1000 bonus per child for new parents