Barilla Group remains close to its people: 12 weeks minimum for all parents starting January 1st 2024
10 October 2023
The Barilla Group announces a new milestone in its long-standing commitment to take care of all the over 8,700 Barilla people around the world and enhance the role of parent, regardless of gender, marital status, sexual orientation or whether whether the employee has become a parent through birth, or adoption, so that every type of family can make the most of this important moment in life. With a new Global Parental Leave Corporate Policy effective on January 1st 2024, Barilla will offer a minimum paid parental leave of 12 weeks for all parents. This policy change comes at a time when concern for gender equality and parental rights are rising on a global scale.
If local legislative standards are more beneficial towards parents, the country's regulations will apply.
“We are really proud to announce this new company policy which aims to enhance parenting and reduce one of the main factors of the gender gap in the workplace. We commit today that by January 2024, we will have created better conditions for all our People to embark on their journey as parents and to be recognized as a parent-friendly Company,” says Floriana Notarangelo, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer Barilla Group. “At Barilla, we understand that each family is unique. That’s why our policy is aimed at every parent, regardless of gender, marital status, sexual orientation or whether they are an adoptive parent or not. Our ongoing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion journey is consistent with Barilla's mission: to bring people closer to the joy of good food and making quality the choice for a better life, from each individual to the planet”.
As a matter of fact, one in two employees express that company parental policies are crucial, according to an international survey by the HR platform Remote. Based on research collected from 5,708 full-time employees across 10 markets, almost half (49%) of respondents said they would consider accepting a new job position if the company had more inclusive parental policies, and 47% said they would decline a job offer if the company’s parental policies didn’t meet their expectations. Even with policies in place, however, the strong stigmas surrounding this topic make people hesitant of taking their allotted time off. Remote research reveals that 15% of employees don’t take their full parental leave, due to the fear of what their peers and superiors might think.
Barilla responds by applying the new Global Parental Leave Policy at the start of the year in order to create a supportive environment for all employees and partners, with a particular focus on the needs of working parents. The policy takes on a more inclusive approach, granting all Barilla permanent employees the possibility of paid parental leave, regardless of whether the employee is the mother, father or adoptive parent of the child. Furthermore, the policy will be applicable if both parents are Barilla employees, and during the paid leave period, staff members will continue to receive their full salary and benefits.
“This new parental policy stems from a multi-year process undertaken by the Group in order to guarantee a better work-life balance. With this important news, we stand once more next to our people: as expecting and new parents, giving their children the support they need; and as working parents, for their well-being and a successful transition back to work,” says Maurizio Cannavacciuolo, Total Rewards & Organization VP Barilla Group.
This change is not only a concrete result of Barilla’s commitment to gender equality, but it is also a fundamental part of the company’s greater journey towards Diversity & Inclusion. For years, the Group has been implementing initiatives aimed at promoting equality and creating an inclusive work environment. In 2017, Barilla was the first Italian company to espouse the Standards of Conduct for Business of the United Nations High Commissariat for Human Rights, which aim to combat discrimination in the workplace, respecting and supporting the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. Barilla also received recognition as one of the “Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality” with a 100% rating in the Corporate Equality Index 2022 in America, for the eighth consecutive year.
The Group is also committed to enhancing female talent in every aspect of Company life, with over 38% of Barilla executives and managers being women. Furthermore, in 2020, all unjustifiable gender pay gaps were eliminated at an international level. This path led the Group to win the Catalyst Award for initiatives that accelerated the advancement of the role of women in the workplace and increased the inclusion of all its employees. Further contributing to the culture of inclusiveness that the company is working so hard to foster, the Winparenting program was activated among Italian employees and managers to guide people going through the transition of becoming new parents.
Moreover, in 2013, Barilla stood out by being one of the first Italian companies to propose formal flexible work contracts to its employees, a work model that was extended in 2020, when the pandemic reinforced the need for a flexible work approach, with Work@Barilla, which provides even more structured possibly for Barilla People to work in remote working.
This policy represents a key moment for Barilla, not only demonstrating their commitment to the well-being of their people, but also showing their dedication to Diversity & Inclusion. It will be one initiative of many in Barilla’s future aimed at continuously fostering an inclusive, open company culture.
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