India Inc embraces gender-neutral parental leave policies for inclusive work environment

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

parental leave policies, in a nod to changing family structures and an increasingly diverse work environment, as companies seek to foster inclusion, spur women’s workforce participation and attract and retain talent from varied backgrounds.

Such policies, being implemented under heads such as parental, adoption, supporting caregiver, foster and kinship, are designed to support parents — including biological, LGBTQIA+, adoptive and surrogate – challenging traditional gender roles and enabling everyone to participate equally in childcare.

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Last week, Colgate-Palmolive India extended its supportive caregiver policy from four weeks (to be availed within six months of the child’s birth or adoption) to three months (to be availed within a year), to enhance gender equality at the workplace by fostering a culture of shared or equal parenting. Secondary caregivers include partners, spouses or other family members supporting the primary caregiver and the policy covers biological parents, adoptive parents and those involved in surrogacy.

“It’s an evolution of the thinking that has been in the company for a while,” said Balaji Sreenivasan, executive vice-president, human resources, Colgate-Palmolive India. “We, as an employer, have a role in making equal parenting a reality in