Ikea has just announced what the conditions of its employees will be for the next five years, a plan that incorporates improvements for work-life balance and equality that is almost exotic in the Spanish labor market.
As for family reconciliation, paternity leave is increased from five to seven weeks and regarding equality between men and women, it is established that there must be 50% of each sex in management positions and that 60% of promotions are for women.
Conciliation measures
The Swedish multinational has just presented its "Equality Plan" that will be valid for the next five years. It includes a significant improvement for family reconciliation: seven weeks of parental leave, that is, two more than just approved. And an addition that, it may seem unimportant, but that is crucial to enjoy quality time with children: Ikea employees will not be required to answer the phone, whatsapps or emails outside of their work schedule.
Positive discrimination
This Swedish company already has a fairly high percentage of women managers (40% versus 60% men), but the new agreement includes this percentage rising to half. Regarding promotions that occur within the company, 60% of internal promotions must be occupied by women.
In addition, the commission responsible for compliance with this agreement will also be responsible for "conducting a wage gap study each year to maintain equal pay for work of equal value."
Protocol for victims of violence
If any of the employees of the company became a victim of gender-based violence, a special protocol has been designed that includes an economic contribution in the event that the woman has to change her address, which will reach 100% for the duration of her condition of victim of gender violence.
Any hits?
Only one: since we are helping in the conciliation, it would not hurt to increase the maternity leave at least six months of exclusive breastfeeding recommended by the World Health Organization. It is great that families get to increase the (until recently) ridiculous paternity leave, but we cannot forget that the return to work is the main cause of abandonment of breastfeeding and this has an easy solution: increase maternity leave up to six months.
Without losing this view request, worthy of applause the seven-week increase in paternity leave for employees of this multinational company.
Via: Five Days
In Babies and more The paternal leave of 16 weeks to match the man with the woman, a benefit or a damage ?, Reconciliation of work and family life: a long way to go
