Vodafone extends support for carers and parents

Vodafone has announced policy changes to bring greater support for carers and parents, including extended paid and unpaid leave.

Vodafone’s new Carer’s Leave will offer 18 weeks’ leave per dependent adult, the first week of which will be fully paid. This mirrors the company’s Parental Leave Policy which offers the same benefit for those caring for a child, up to the point they turn 18, with a maximum of four weeks’ leave to be taken in any one year.

Vodafone has also introduced free access to Legal & General’s Care Concierge Service, providing support and assistance to employees who find themselves balancing elderly caring responsibilities with employment, often in addition to other commitments.

The Care Concierge service provides one-to-one telephone support alongside tailored information and guidance to help navigate the care system.

The new benefit includes a 30-minute telephone session with a care expert to help employees understand what care is needed and how to arrange it plus guidance on typical care costs and the different ways of paying for care. Additional discounted services are also available to provide extra help with finding care or if employees would like a care expert to act on their behalf.

Vodafone has also amended its existing Maternity, Paternity, Adoption and Shared Parental Leave policies in response to feedback from employees in order to support parents whose baby is born prematurely. The updated policies recognise that when a baby is premature, employees may want to delay the start of their leave until the baby is discharged from hospital.

Vodafone UK employees will also see the introduction of two weeks of paid leave for expectant parents, regardless of gender, who lose a baby before the 24th week of pregnancy. Such leave is already available to those who lose a child in the later stages of pregnancy or at any time before a child’s 18th birthday. This is inclusive of whether the loss occurs to an employee or their partner.

Clare Corkish, HR Director of Vodafone UK, said: “As an employer we are committed to helping protect and support our people and their families through important life stages. These new policy changes have been made in the belief that we can have a positive impact at a time when people are dealing with sensitive and stressful situations – and ultimately need support the most.”

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