Standard Chartered drives inclusion with enhanced global parental leave benefit. — Photo courtesy of Standard Chartered Bank

HÀ NỘI — Standard Chartered on Wednesday announced the rollout of its enhanced global parental leave benefits.

From September 1, 2023, the bank will standardise the amount of parental leave it offers, providing parents the option of undertaking more equitable caregiving responsibilities for their children.

With the enhanced benefits, employees in Standard Chartered Vietnam can access a maximum of 20 weeks of paid parental leave, irrespective of gender, relationship status or how a child comes to permanently join an employee’s family.

The enhanced benefits have been designed to support working parents. This is part of the bank’s commitment to fostering an inclusive culture, where employees are supported in balancing their personal lives with building successful careers.

Tanuj Kapilashrami, Group Head of Human Resources, Standard Chartered, said: “We continuously look at how we can introduce progressive benefits that drive inclusion, improve the employee experience, and help colleagues achieve their potential.

We believe benefits such as this help address globally prevalent societal norms around traditional roles, improve workforce participation and provide options to those who want to take up shared childcare responsibilities. This will positively impact families’ financial wellbeing and create a more inclusive workplace that supports each individual’s unique family planning choices.

We hope that our actions inspire other employers – across industries, around the world – to take similar actions. If we take a stand together, we can build a movement that creates a more inclusive society.”

Michele Wee, CEO, Standard Chartered Vietnam, said: “We are proud to be the leading foreign bank in the market to offer the best parental leave package. We believe in fostering a culture where every member of our Standard Chartered family in Việt Nam can thrive personally and professionally. This initiative underscores our dedication to inclusivity and well-being, reflecting our belief that a supportive workplace empowers both our employees and their families to flourish.”

Standard Chartered has become the first bank in Việt Nam to achieve the prestigious certification for equity, diversity, and gender equality (EDGE). Achieving the highest LEAD level across all industries, this recognition highlights the bank’s dedication to driving gender equality, equal opportunities, and fostering an inclusive workplace culture in Việt Nam. The bank was also certified as a Great Place To Work in 2023 by Great Place to Work® – the global authority on workplace culture. — VNS