Employer BT Group has unveiled a new family leave policy for UK employees to “level up” paid leave for any parent welcoming a new child.
Under the policy, which will be introduced from 1 January 2025, every parent, irrespective of how their family is made up, will be eligible for 18 weeks full pay, 8 weeks of half pay, plus 26 weeks at the statutory rate. BT said there will also be interim arrangements until the new policy launches.
The company said that this move will put BT Group in the top 33 percent of FTSE100 employers, as less than 50 percent of companies offer aligned maternity and paternity leave.
More than statutory
The change follows the recent launch of the employer’s carer’s leave policy, which goes beyond statutory requirements. From 1 October, BT staff who have unpaid caring responsibilities outside work will be able to take two weeks of paid leave to care for others.
This is more generous than the statutory requirement which entitles all carers in employment to take five days of unpaid leave a year from 6 April 2024.
