Beer company Molson Coors has introduced an equal parental leave policy for its employees which will offer them up to 52 weeks of leave.
Of the 52 weeks, 26 will be fully paid while another 12 are fully paid for neonatal care if required.When it comes to returning to work after their leave, parents of both genders who take more than 26 weeks of leave can avail of 10 'keeping in touch days' as well as paid antenatal appointments. The company that brews at Franciscan Well Brewery in Co Cork is also aiming to banish the label of "secondary carer" attached to those who cannot take enough time off work to look after a baby.
"As a business that is part of a typically male-dominated industry, we have an opportunity to help break down those stereotypes and help to challenge the 'secondary carer' label -which is often taken on by new fathers. We want to make it easier for fathers to be able to take more time away from work as a new parent, because we know that by doing that, we are also helping to give mothers more choice and families the opportunity to start that parenting journey on a more equal footing.