Author
Diederik Eisvogel
Business Unit Director Respiratory & Immunology, AstraZeneca Switzerland
Our two daughters mean everything to me. So for me, there was no question that I'd be taking parental leave as a father. For my second daughter, I recently took a much longer period of parental leave than with my first.
This opportunity allowed me to focus completely on my role as a father and to be there for my family in the fullest capacity possible. During that time, my wife continued to work, safe in the knowledge that everything at home was running smoothly.
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A positive experience for everyone involved
Things at work also stayed much the same. For that to happen, my deputy at AstraZeneca needed to be well prepared and organised.
My employees also responded very positively to the new situation, taking on more responsibility during that time. These experiences will benefit them and the company going forward. As for me, I returned to the office with a fresh set of eyes.
Promoting equal opportunities, improved well-being and more productive workplaces
By introducing equal parental leave, we are facilitating equal opportunities for men and women. Not only that, but equal parental leave also offers benefits for the economy as a whole. The financial burden on families is lessened, and women in particular are encouraged to remain in the workforce.
Introducing equal parental leave promotes equal opportunities, reinforces job satisfaction among employees and helps build a more integrative and more productive workplace.
And though parental leave comes with its own organisational challenges for the company, they are undoubtedly outweighed by the advantages. «As well as promoting equal opportunities, we’re also reinforcing job satisfaction among our employees and contributing to a more integrative and more productive workplace», says Katrin Lipp, Human Resources Director.
This is also clearly reflected in the feedback provided by the individual teams: The new parental leave policy was very positively received by all those involved!
Diversity and inclusion: 16 weeks parental leave for all
AstraZeneca introduced equal parental leave on 1 July 2023. Parental leave for fathers/secondary caregivers has been extended from two to 16 weeks. This policy also applies to adoptions.
Maternity leave:
Maternity leave starts on the day the child is born. At AstraZeneca, the leave entitlement is 16 weeks (112 days). During maternity leave, the previous salary is paid at 100% because AstraZeneca tops up the statutory compensation for loss of earnings to 100%.
Paternity leave:
Fathers or the other caregiver are also entitled to take 16 weeks (112 calendar days, including the day the child is born and weekends). During paternity leave, the previous salary is paid at 100%. In this case too, AstraZeneca increases the statutory compensation for loss of earnings to 100% of the base salary.
Statutory provisions in Switzerland:
Working mothers are entitled to maternity compensation for the first 14 weeks after the birth of their child. Working fathers or the wives of women who have given birth to a child can take two weeks’ paid holiday within the first six months after the birth of their child.