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Sandvik introduces gender-neutral parental leave benefit

Posted on 18 Jan 2025. Edited by: Tony Miles. Read 640 times.
Sandvik introduces gender-neutral parental leave benefitSandvik employee with baby

Supporting all employees’ families across the globe, Sandvik is in the midst of rolling out a common minimum baseline in all their markets to ensure an equal parental leave benefit of 14 weeks paid. Whether through birth, adoption or surrogacy, every new parent who has completed their first 12 months as a Sandvik employee will now be guaranteed 14 weeks of paid leave. This holds, of course, for full-time as well as part-time workers.

The new equal parental leave benefit is being rolled out as a global standard over a period of 12 months. The programme has already been fully implemented in more than 20 countries, starting with Canada, Croatia, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Slovakia. Sandvik parental leave benefit ensures that countries with less generous leave entitlements will now meet this global standard, creating a common minimum baseline across all the countries where Sandvik has employees. The programme provides 90% of the base salary to all employees during their leave. For employees located in countries which already have a parental leave benefit better than the one introduced, there will be no changes.

Stefan Widing, Sandvik’s president and CEO, said: “Being able to spend time at home with my own sons was a privilege that has shaped me personally and professionally. Offering all employees the same opportunity is something I am personally committed to. I believe that work-life balance is key to both personal well-being and professional success. I am happy we can now offer this benefit to all employees, and I consider it especially important that men take this opportunity.”

This new global parental leave programme is expected to primarily benefit male employees and their families. For women — for the mothers — in many of the countries in which Sandvik operates, the law often provides the equivalent or better privileges regarding parental leave.

Standardising gender-neutral parental leave policy is a strategic element in Sandvik’s commitment to promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and employee well-being. Sandvik acknowledges that a gender-neutral approach is essential for gender equality. Including fathers helps to break down traditional gender norms and foster a more equal dynamic.

Nidhi Gokhale, vice president HR at Sandvik Manufacturing Solutions, said: “We believe in, and we support our people, so they can bring their best to both work and home. However, in many places, especially for fathers, parental leave is limited or non-existent. Our new benefit will help normalise shared parenting and allow all employees the opportunity to focus on their growing family.”

With sales in 170 countries, Sandvik employs 41,000 people worldwide. While all are eligible, regardless of gender, location or family structure, the new benefit of equal parental leave is completely voluntary. Sandvik recognises that it is up to each family to decide what is best for them.

Ms Gokhale concluded: “By launching this global benefit, Sandvik takes one big step forward in our commitment to inclusion and supporting our employees’ health and wealth being. We are not the first company to introduce this, but we are among the few offering such comprehensive support for families.”