New parents at the London office of Bird & Bird will be able to take six months' leave on full pay in what the global firm has described as one of the most comprehensive parental leave and pay offerings in the legal sector.
The new policy, which came into force this week, will apply to staff, regardless of gender, who have worked at the firm for at least a year. They will be able to take up to 26 weeks off on full pay in the first 12 months of their child being born or adopted. They will also be allowed to take the leave in two separate blocks.
Previously, new mothers were entitled to 26 weeks on full pay, while fathers were entitled to four weeks on full pay. Shared parental leave was 26 weeks on full pay.
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HR chief Andrea Pankhurst said: ‘By providing 26 weeks of fully paid leave to all parents, we are giving everyone the freedom to focus on their family without compromise. This commitment isn’t just about time off from work - it’s about creating a more equal and inclusive workplace for all parents.
‘We want everyone, whether you’re a first-time parent or growing your family, to feel supported during the earliest stages of parenthood, with the flexibility and confidence to focus on what truly matters.’
Bird & Bird is the latest in a growing number of firms to offer a better family package and its announcement comes in the same week the government announced new ‘day one rights’ for workers from April.
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