10 Feb 2020 - LONDON, UK: A cross-party group of MPs and Peers, The Women and Work APPG, was set up four years ago in response to an increasing public – and political – focus on the role of women in the workforce, and the acknowledgement from Government that the UK economy underuses women’s talents and misses out on a “huge economic prize”.

Its latest report, which was launched in the House of Commons today and can be read in more detail here, encourages employers to broadly recognise the differences between women themselves and the challenges they face in the workplace.

Vodafone’s 16-week paid parental leave policy and global maternity policy have been included in the report as case studies. They aid the report in telling how companies are supporting families by giving each parent the opportunity to have more time with children new to their family.

Any Vodafone employee whose partner is having a baby, adopts a child, or becomes a parent through surrogacy will have the flexibility to take up to 16 weeks’ paid leave at any time during the first 18 months following the birth. Vodafone employees will also be able to phase their return from parental leave by working the equivalent of a 30- hour week at full pay for a further six months.

By the end of March 2021, Vodafone’s parental leave will be available to all non-birthing parents – regardless of gender, sexual orientation or length of service – across Vodafone’s 24 markets and operations in Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the US. The new global policy further underlines Vodafone’s strong commitment to diversity and gender equality and will make a significant difference to thousands of Vodafone employees, particularly in countries where there is little or no legal requirement to give equal support for both parents.

The Women and Work APPG is supported by a range of organisations across the business world which help fund the running of the Group via its secretariat, Connect.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, contact: <strong>womenandworkappg@connectpa.co.uk</strong>

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