From 1st July 2019, pharmaceutical organisation Novartis will begin a phased roll out of equal paid parental leave for a minimum of 14 weeks to all new parents in its global workforce, regardless of gender.
The benefit will be effective to employees from their first day of employment.
Steven Baert, chief people and organisation officer at Novartis, said: “At Novartis, we want to celebrate with our people on becoming parents and to support them at this life-changing moment.
“I am therefore proud to announce that from July 1, 2019, Novartis will begin the phased implementation of its new global parental leave policy, which will offer equal parental leave to all parents welcoming a new child through birth, surrogacy or adoption.
"We believe that this important family-friendly benefit will empower our people to make the right choices for the health and well-being of their families, by enjoying more flexibility and financial stability, at the times of their life when it matters the most.”