HP to pay 26 weeks off to new parents

Hewlett Packard Enterprise has recently rolled out various employee programs, including 26 weeks of paid leave for new parents - both mothers and fathers.

According to the company, this new parental leave policy is a part of HPE’s new initiative to improve the wellbeing of its staff, and their work-life balance.

Other initiatives include Parental Transition Support, Retirement Transition Support, as well as 'Wellness Fridays' where employees are encouraged to leave the office three hours early on one Friday each month to volunteer, focus on their physical/emotional health, or spend time on personal/career development.

In a press statement, HP was quoted saying, that implementing these innovative policies on paid parental leave and flexible working arrangements in recognition of the importance of equal parenting, and the role that workplace culture can play in supporting it.

HPE has enhanced its paid parental leave policy to allow new parents with at least one year of service in HPE, to benefit from 26 weeks of paid leave within the first year after the birth, or adoption of a child. This represents an increase of 10 weeks for mothers, and 24 weeks for fathers in Singapore.

According to the tech firm, eligibility for the extended paid paternal leave benefit is being retroactively applied to parents with children born or adopted on, or after May 1, 2019.

In addition, the company's Parental Transition Support is a flexible work arrangement policy that offers new parents the opportunity to work part-time for up to three years, after the birth, or adoption of a child.

Narinder Kapoor, Managing Director of Asia-Pacific at HPE shared, "At HPE in Singapore, we want all of our employees to be reaching their full potential in their careers. That means supporting them as they grow their families as well.”

According to Singapore’s maternity leave eligibility and entitlement, a working mother is entitled to either 16 weeks of Government-Paid Maternity Leave or 12 weeks of maternity leave, depending on whether the child is a Singapore citizen and other criteria.

A lot many companies like HPE are taking steps to support new parents and helping them manage their both personal and professional aspects. The companies are acknowledging the importance of wellness and flexibility and how it can prove to be instrumental in building a culture where people can develop and thrive, even in times of transition at home.