Unilever rolls out expanded paternity and adoption leaves, domestic partner policy

Unilever Philippines has implemented new benefits for employees, including a 20-day paternity leave, an “adoption leave,” as well as the recognition of same-sex partners as beneficiaries.

It now allows new fathers to take off from work for 20 days of paid paternity leave, compared with the seven-day paternity leave mandated by law.

“We recognize the roles that both mothers and fathers play in the upbringing of their children, which is why we have expanded the paternity leave for the fathers in our workforce,” said Benjie Yap, Unilever Philippines’ chairman and CEO.

According to Unilever, this is complementary to the 120-day expanded maternity benefit the company introduced in 2017.

The proposed Expanded Maternity Leave has been approved by the Senate, while its counterpart measure at the House of Representatives was approved on second reading earlier this week.

Unilever said it also implemented a paid absence for adoptive parents fostering a child six months and below.

“Adoptive parents are also granted paid absence for those who are adopting child of age six months and below to foster familiarization and bonding as a family similar with the newborn child,” it said.

On the other hand, its Domestic Partner Policy allows employees to enroll same-sex partners as beneficiaries with access to healthcare benefits.

“Diversity is an essential requirement in the today’s workforce, as it lends to new ideas, energies, and solutions,” Yap noted.

“As we are a company driven by people with purpose, it is equally important for us to support our employees, recognizing the varying unions and families that they may be part of,” he said.

Axe, CloseUp, Dove, Knorr, Pond’s, Rexona, Surf, Lady’s Choice, Cream Silk, and Selecta are among Unilever’s brands in the country. —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/VDS, GMA News