- Access Bank Approves Paternity Leave for Male Employees
Access Bank Plc has approved paternity leave for its male employees as lenders step up efforts to offer unique perks for their staff members.
“Starting January 2018, male employees of Access Bank can take advantage of an enhanced parental leave policy that extends paid benefits to all mothers and fathers,” the lender said in a statement on Wednesday.
According to the bank, the policy fosters an inclusive workplace and offers paid leave to all new parents at the bank including mothers and fathers, as well as adoptive and surrogate parents.
Access Bank said the new policy offered one week fully paid paternity leave to male employees and allowed them to care for their offspring and spend some quality time with the new addition to their family while supporting the new mother who needs the break.
Also included in the new policy is a surrogacy or adoptive leave with full pay for three calendar months for female employees of the bank.
The statement further said, “These benefits supplement the 12 weeks of paid leave Access Bank currently provides to birth mothers. The policy also complements the bank’s existing health and flexible workplace benefits, which support work-life balance.”
The Head, Group Human Resources, Bolaji Agbede, was quoted to have said that paid parental leave allowed parents to truly bond with their new child, balance their work schedule and help reduce conflict with parental obligations.
Agbede said, “Studies have shown that fathers who take paternity leave are more likely to take an active role in child care tasks and will continue to play this role long after the period of leave has ended.
“It is important for the new father to take time off, regardless of family structure. This new policy is an evidence of the bank’s support to employees during this wonderful but challenging time in their lives.”
She added, “Furthermore, a pregnant employee who has been in the bank’s employment for 12 consecutive months also has the option of six calendar months maternity leave with two-thirds of full month pay, while the surrogacy or adoptive leave period is three calendar months with full pay or six calendar months leave with two-thirds of full month pay.”
