Lidl has become the first supermarket to introduce 28 weeks full pay for colleagues on maternity or adoption leave.
Due to come into effect in January, the new allowance doubles the discount supermarket’s current package of 14 weeks.
The new move, which also sees the introduction of paid leave for both fertility treatment and pregnancy loss, is designed to support parents and set a benchmark for the supermarket sector.
It will be launched alongside a raft of new employment benefits. Colleagues undergoing fertility treatment will be entitled to two full days of leave per treatment cycle, with no limit to the number of cycles that an employee can claim, while five days of paid leave will be offered to anyone affected by pregnancy loss prior to 24 weeks.
Subscribe to Grocery Gazette for free
Sign up here to get the latest grocery and food news each morning
In addition to its family-focused updates, Lidl has also extended its compassionate leave policy, increasing paid leave to 5 days.
Lidl GB chief human resources officer Stephanie Rogers said: “We’re deeply committed to supporting our colleagues, not just in their professional lives but also through personal milestones and challenges.
“Over the past year, we’ve engaged closely with colleagues to see how we can better support those who are balancing work and family life. Whilst there is always more to be done, these latest enhancements to our family leave policies show our dedication to fostering a supportive and inclusive workplace and reinforce our ambition to be a first-choice employer.”
Other new employee-focused measures by Lidl in recent years include the supermarket giant becoming accredited as a menopause-friendly employer, and introducing initiatives such as a menopause community group to support colleagues affected by symptoms.
