Global law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) has expanded its parental leave policies across the business, effective from 1 July.
UK employees will be eligible for 26 weeks of leave at 100% pay, as well as 13 weeks of statutory maternity pay for primary carers, and 13 weeks at 100% pay for secondary carers. Shared parental leave was increased to 26 weeks at full pay and 13 weeks of statutory pay.
In the US, leave will be the same for both lawyers and business services staff, with both primary and secondary carers able to take 20 weeks of leave at 100% pay.
The firm also announced a global standard of enhanced leave of 20 weeks primary and 13 weeks secondary full pay across its international offices, and introduced up to four weeks of neonatal leave at full pay, applicable to parents of babies born prematurely or full-term and admitted to hospital. A coaching programme for new parents, which already exists in the UK, will be rolled out across the rest of the firm.
According to BCLP, this expansion built on its existing suite of people-first global policies, including pregnancy loss and compassionate and bereavement leave, implemented in January.
Lisa Mayhew and Steve Baumer, co-chairs of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, said: “We are keenly aware of how important these policies are in enabling our colleagues to balance career ambitions with nurturing their home lives. The wellbeing of all its people is a priority for the firm, and these changes are key components in supporting BCLP workers and their families.”
Hannah Kozlova Lindsay, chief people officer at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, added: “BCLP values the wellness of our people and wants them to take care of themselves and their loved ones in ways that best address their needs. With our enhanced parental leave policies, our aim is to support parents, both primary and secondary carers, in taking an active role in raising their families so they can return to work feeling empowered.”