Women working for Old Mutual will now have 4-months maternity leave
Old Mutual Kenya has introduced new policies to support its female staff, foster gender equality, and enhance productivity. The company has extended maternity leave from three to four months, allowing women more time to bond with their newborns and recover from childbirth.
Women who suffer miscarriages will also get longer breaks to cope with their loss. Moreover, the company has increased paternity leave from two weeks to one month, enabling partners to share childcare responsibilities and support each other. Old Mutual Kenya has also launched tele-counselling services for all employees to address mental health issues.
The new measures were announced at the Old Mutual Women Network (OWN) breakfast event yesterday, where women from different departments gathered to network and learn. OWN is a forum that empowers women through various activities such as community outreach, coaching and mentoring, diversity and inclusivity, care and sharing, and business acumen development. It operates in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and South Sudan.
Nkirote Njiru, Old Mutual Group Human Capital Executive for East Africa, said that the company’s new policies reflect its adaptability and commitment to creating a conducive working environment for both men and women. “We understand that every woman’s journey to motherhood is unique and they need different kinds of support. Our extended maternity leave and other measures are designed to provide that support and promote gender equality,” she said.
The Chief Guest at the event was Catherine Muraga – MD of Microsoft Africa Development Centre – who highlighted the role of technology in advancing gender equality. “Technology can be a great equalizer that offers opportunities for women to access education, progressive jobs, connections, and perspectives that are sometimes overlooked,” she said.
OWN East Africa Patron, Anne Nyamu, said, “This month, we have an exciting opportunity to explore how the tech world has impacted gender dynamics. As aligned with this year’s IWD theme, we shall host a tech extravaganza series, which will see women in tech share their experiences and the opportunities in this space that we can leverage to better our productivity.”
This is even as the world marked International Women’s Day 2023 with the theme of leveraging innovation and technology to promote gender equality.
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