More companies tweak maternity leave policies to retain employees

With an eye on retaining women employees, more companies are tweaking their maternity benefit policies, including increasing the mandatory three-months paid leave to six.

Interestingly, companies are changing leave policies not just in the event of childbirth, but also surrogacy and adoption.

Broadcaster Sony Pictures Network is the latest to join the bandwagon following the footsteps of companies such as Accenture, Airtel, Flipkart, Godrej and Tata Sons, which incorporated changes in their HR policies to curb attrition among women and also to increase gender diversity.

Sony Pictures has introduced initiatives to make the company more women-friendly. SPN’s ratio of female employees to the overall employee population stood at 32.2 per cent during 2015-16 fiscal year.

The media conglomerate has made amendments to its maternity leave policy with an increase in the quantum of paid maternity leave. This policy is also applicable to women who wish to opt for adoption or surrogacy.

The duration of paid leave that can be availed for maternity has been increased from 12 weeks to six months. SPN has made special provision for a Mother’s Room, where a new mother can pump and store milk for her baby while at work.

“Women form an integral part of our workforce. Our policies are geared towards encouraging women at SPN to develop their careers and essay leadership roles while playing a key part in supporting their families,” said NP Singh, CEO, Sony Pictures Networks India.

The company also has a paternity policy applicable for its male employees for a period of five working days or 84 calendar days in case of a single male parent (adoption).

Other companies such as Nestle, Flipkart and Tata Sons too, have in the recent past adopted flexile maternity policies. Accenture even has a maternity returners’ programme — parents-at-work programme, workshops, and maternity counselling.

Tata Sons had recently rolled out its women-centric initiatives, including seven-month-long paid maternity leave, 18 months of half pay-half working day post-maternity support. Women roughly account for 24 per cent of the total workforce in Tata Group.

As per the current government guidelines, companies in India typically offer three months of paid maternity leave.

India is ranked 123rd when it comes to the female-male ratio at workplace. At least 48 per cent of women in India quit their careers midway. As per available data, Indian women’s contribution to the national GDP is 17 per cent as against the global average of 37 per cent.

New-age companies such as Flipkart have also introduced changes in their maternity benefits package to include six months of maternity leave plus four months of flexi working hours with full pay for new mothers.

“With the introduction of these policies, Flipkart aims to create a safe, secure and inclusive work atmosphere,” Flipkart had said in its statement.

Industry experts say these policies are in the right direction to ensure gender diversity at work. Research has shown that most women quit their jobs after childbirth due to lack of support at home.

Saundarya Rajesh, Founder, AVTAR Career Creators, a talent strategy consulting firm, says companies are undertaking such initiatives to curb attrition among women employees.

“Even though a six-month-long maternity leave puts stress on companies’ wage bills, especially that of small and medium firms, several companies are still undertaking steps to retain talent and improve gender diversity. Going forward, we see more companies going ahead with such initiatives.”