Sanofi Announces Paid Parental Leave for All Staff Worldwide

Biopharmaceutical company Sanofi has announced that it will offer all employees worldwide 14 weeks paid parental leave from 1 Jan 2022 to ensure workplace equality.

Regardless of gender or sexual orientation, Sanofi employees welcoming a child into their family will receive equal amount of paid time off; and receive 100% of their base salary during the 14-week leave period. This enhanced paid leave will cover all permanent employees who are welcoming a new child; or whose partner is welcoming a new child, through childbirth, adoption, surrogacy, or due to custody. Employees will continue to receive their base salary for the 14-week leave period. This benefit will support families by giving parents dedicated time to prepare for and welcome their new child.

Sanofi’s new global framework will provide a minimum benefit of paid parental leave so that all employees worldwide receive at least the same amount of paid time off. The new framework will not change or decrease existing benefits in countries that already offer more than 14 weeks of paid parental leave, the company confirmed.

EMBRACING DIVERSITY

For Sanofi employees in the US, this means parental paid time off is increasing from 8 to 14 weeks. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 23% of civilian workers had access to paid family leave in 2021; and there is currently no federal paid family leave benefit for parents.

“We are dedicated to a workplace that embraces diversity and nurtures an environment where all employees feel they belong and are supported. This new policy underscores Sanofi’s commitment to inclusion by providing parents, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation, the same amount of paid time off,” said Clint Wallace, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Sanofi North America. “This enhanced benefit promotes equity and gives families more time off to bond.”

Sanofi’s enhanced paid parental leave builds on the generous benefits already available to US employees and their families. This includes programmes such as financial assistance for adoption; surrogacy or infertility; pre-maternity leave; special needs support; and childcare centre discounts.

Last year, JTI also launched a global equal family leave policy for all its employees. Click here to read more.