Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) has enhanced its parental leave support, with new measures to be introduced on 1 July 2023.
The global law firm is offering its eligible UK employees 26 weeks at full pay followed by 13 weeks of statutory maternity pay for primary carers, while secondary carers will be entitled to 13 weeks of leave at full pay. Shared parental leave will be increased to 26 weeks at full pay, followed by 13 weeks of statutory pay.
Additionally, BCLP will provide up to four weeks of neonatal leave at full pay for parents of premature babies or those who are full term but admitted to hospital due to sickness.
Chief people officer Hannah Kozlova Lindsay said: “BCLP values the wellness of our people and wants them to take care of themselves and their loved ones in ways that best address their needs. With our enhanced parental leave policies, our aim is to support parents – both primary and secondary carers – in taking an active role in raising their families so they can return to work feeling empowered.”
The enhancements complement the company’s existing range of global initiatives, including its bereavement and compassionate leave and pregnancy loss policies introduced in January.
The firm also intends to globally roll out its coaching programme for new parents, which is already available in the UK.
It further plans to set a global standard of enhanced leave internationally.
Firm co-chairs Lisa Mayhew and Steve Baumer added: “We are keenly aware of how important these policies are in enabling our colleagues to balance career ambitions with nurturing their home lives. The wellbeing of all its people is a priority for the firm, and these changes are key components in supporting BCLP workers and their families.”
