Today, March 30th 2021, Volvo Cars announced their global, gender-neutral parental leave policy.
This ‘Family Bond’ policy offers all Volvo Car employees with one year’s service a total of 24 weeks of leave at 80% of their base pay – and includes non-birth parents of same sex couples as well as adoptive, permanent care foster, and surrogate parents.
While the traditional family is still relevant, the historical assumption that it is the mother’s responsibility to care for the children is becoming increasingly challenged by progressive initiatives such as this. Organisations must recognise that roles and family models are changing and a ‘one size fits all’ approach will not suffice.
This significant step in equality is the embodiment of Volvo’s company values and one that the organisation has been heading towards for a few years now. We had the opportunity to speak with Mike Johnstone, Head of Marketing & Brand at Volvo Cars when the UK organisation was already making moves to become one of the most inclusive companies in the sector.
At the time, Volvo Car UK had introduced a ground-breaking paternity leave policy which illustrated their drive to challenge traditional norms and outdated legislation to encourage a more diverse and inclusive workplace culture.
Mike said, “We’re trying to change the historical assumptions about mothers taking time off to care for children. This policy is there because it’s the best thing for the business – and it has been really well received. I don’t think anyone else in the industry is doing this.”
But Volvo Cars did not stop here – the forward-thinking manufacturer has expanded this parental leave beyond biological parents to now include all forms of modern families on a global scale. They are truly setting a new standard of inclusivity, not only within automotive but across all industries.
This truly incredible development is a strong move in the fight towards true gender equality and ensuring the pay gap narrows. It is also a key factor in ensuring a diverse workforce to increase performance and strengthen their business.
Mike said, “When talking about diversity and inclusion it’s not just about quotas, it’s about the environment and the culture”.
It is evident that the key to diversity is to create an environment where individuals can bring their true selves to work. Inclusivity leads to diversity, a truth that Volvo Cars thrives upon.
Read on below for Ennis & Co’s full publication ‘Driving Diversity’ to learn about Mike Johnstone’s first steps in the move towards this incredible achievement:
