Global investment management organisation Baillie Gifford has introduced a new equal parental leave policy for its 1,128 staff.
The policy, effective from 1 April 2019, enables both male and female employees to take up to 52 weeks of paid parental leave upon becoming a parent, regardless of length of service. The first 26 weeks are fully paid, while the remaining 13 are taken at half pay. New parents are also able to continue accruing their existing holidays and benefits when on leave.
Previously, Baillie Gifford operated separate maternity and paternity leave policies. Maternity leave entitlement for those with less than one years’ service was set at 39 weeks, with six weeks fully paid and 33 weeks paid at the statutory rate. New mothers with more than one year’s service received 39 weeks of leave; six weeks of this were at full pay and the remaining 33 were at half pay.
Baillie Gifford’s previous paternity leave policy allowed for two weeks of paid leave.
The new equal parental leave policy has been implemented in order to offer new parents choice and flexibility, as well as to help improve gender equality at the firm.
The enhanced policy was communicated to employees using an article on the staff intranet, on-site posters and a drop-in question and answer session. Staff will also be told in person when applying for parental leave.
Lynn Dewar (pictured), partner and chair of the diversity and inclusion group at Baillie Gifford, said: “The new policy offers equal rights to all working parents after a child’s birth or adoption.
“As a fair and progressive employer, this is part of our commitment to supporting gender equality and improving diversity across the firm.”