Tech Mahindra Announces Paid Adoption Leave For Same-Sex Couples

IT giant Tech Mahindra has announced paid adoption and extended bereavement leave for same-sex couples. The new policies of the company strive for expansion of the company's diversity and inclusion policy, which also includes flexibility in work from home and support groups for employees.

As per Tech Mahindra's new policy, same-sex couples are now eligible for 12 weeks paid leave for adoption. Further, the company will provide three days of bereavement leave.

Some Takeaways:

• Tech Mahindra introduces 12 weeks of paid leave for adoption and three days of bereavement leave for same-sex couples.
• The policy aims to encourage parents across genders to spend more time with their newborns.
  
• Previously, Tata consultancy and Accenture have also announced Gender-neutral policies.

Read also: Sanna Marin, World’s Youngest PM, Is A Daughter Of Same-Sex Parents

New policy

As per Tech Mahindra's new policy, same-sex couples are now eligible for 12 weeks paid leave for adoption. Further, the company will provide three days of bereavement leave. The new policy also includes greater flexibility in work from home policy. In addition to this, support groups for employees, like new parents, cancer patients/survivors and fitness and lifestyle, would also be created. The policy comes after its chief diversity officer faced an internal investigation for alleged harassment of a former employee over his sexual orientation.

“Today, employees demand a user- and customer-like experience as well as a great human experience." - Harshvendra Soin, Chief People Officer at Tech Mahindra

Harshvendra Soin, Chief People Officer at the firm said, “Today, employees demand a user- and customer-like experience as well as a great human experience. At Tech Mahindra, human experience is a function of user experience, customer experience, employee experience.” He further added, "As a ‘company with a purpose', Tech Mahindra is excited to embark on this transformational journey of empowering our associates by keeping their needs foremost."

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Rise of gender-neutral policies

Gender-neutral policies are gaining footing across organisations to encourage a diverse and inclusive workforce. According to a report by Times of India, Deutsche Bank provides 26 weeks of paid leave to primary caregivers. The spokesperson of the bank told TOI,“Without the classification of maternal or paternal leave, the bank provides 26 weeks of paid leave to the primary child caregiver 'irrespective of gender and the other partner automatically becomes eligible for 10 days of secondary caregiver leave." Deutsche Bank doesn't differentiate between natural/adoption/surrogacy births and entitles primary caregiver 26 weeks paid leave.."

Tata Consultancy Services covers same-sex partners under its health insurance policy. Accenture also announced a 22-week leave for new parents, whether the child is of biological or surrogacy births or adoption, three years ago.

Read also: Dutee Chand Faces Backlash From Family Over Same-Sex Relationship

Mansi is an Intern at ShethePeople.TV