Pfizer announces 12-week paternity leave policy for its employees

Pfizer India has announced a 12-week paternity leave policy for its employees as part of its diversity and inclusion initiatives. The new leave policy is applicable from 1st January, 2023, and can be availed by biological as well as adoptive fathers. The initiative by Pfizer is a significant move towards fostering inclusion, diversity and equity within the organisation, the company informed via a statement recently.

According to the statement, the paternity leave policy offers birthing and non-birthing fathers the flexibility to avail leaves over a period of two years. The minimum number of leaves that can be availed in a single tranche is two weeks and the maximum is six weeks. In case of any complexity, the employee will be allowed to take additional leaves under Pfizer’s generous leave policies which include casual leave, elective holiday and wellness days.

Shilpi Singh, Director, People Experience, Pfizer India, said in the statement, “At Pfizer, people are at the centre of everything we do. We believe the future of a progressive workspace will be defined by practices that harness a people-first approach. The 12-week paternity leave policy will most certainly enable our male colleagues and their partners to cherish the experience and joyful moments of parenthood. A progressive policy of this nature is our endeavour to harness the power of equity at the workplace and enable both men and women to invest equal time in essaying their roles and responsibilities as a parent.”

Some other employee benefits offered by the company are telemedicine with access to doctors across more than 30 therapeutic specialties, Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) that offers global wellness and mental health support, medical plan and infertility treatment up to maximum of maternity coverage to create a safe and inclusive workplace for its employees.