Asda has rolled out a raft of new family leave benefits for its 140,000-strong workforce, doubling paternity leave and significantly enhancing support for parents, carers and colleagues experiencing pregnancy loss.
The supermarket giant has extended maternity and adoption pay for hourly colleagues from 12 to 26 weeks, and doubled paternity leave from two to four weeks at full pay. Secondary kinship carers will now also be entitled to company paternity leave.
In a first for the grocer, Asda is introducing 26 weeks of paid leave for primary kinship carers – those who take on long-term care for a child who is not their own.
It has also enhanced its pregnancy loss policy to provide two weeks of paid leave for colleagues who lose a pregnancy before 24 weeks.
The changes follow Asda’s launch of neonatal care leave last year, which gives colleagues up to 12 weeks of additional paid leave if their baby requires extended treatment after birth.
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“Asda is proud to be introducing new and enhanced family-friendly policies,” said general counsel and interim chief people officer Helen Selby.
“We want our colleagues to feel supported during some of the most important – and occasionally most challenging – moments in their lives.”
Usdaw national officer Jayne Allport welcomed the update, adding: “We are pleased that the company has committed to providing valuable, additional support for our members when they need it most.”
The move comes alongside an £80m investment into pay rises for store staff, as Asda seeks to bolster support for shop floor workers.
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