Wates commits to enhanced family leave policies 

Wates is increasing fully paid paternity leave from eight weeks to 12 weeks, which employees can take anytime within the first two years of their child being born or adopted.

The leave can be taken in blocks, giving employees the choice of flexing it to suit their requirements. 

Employees can now benefit from this entitlement from the first day of employment. 

The industry average currently stands at eight weeks of fully paid paternity leave, while the statutory entitlement is up to two weeks.

Paternity leave is important for promoting gender equality, with research by the Centre for Progressive Policy suggesting there is a 4% decrease in gender wage gap in countries with more than six weeks of paid paternity leave. 

In addition to its paternity/partner leave policy, Wates has made its maternity, shared parental leave, and adoption and surrogacy leave policies available from the first day of employment.

Since 6 April 2024, organisations have been legally required to provide one week’s unpaid leave (pro rata) per year to enable employees to provide or arrange care for a dependant with a long-term care need. 

Wates previously offered four weeks’ unpaid carer’s leave but has now enhanced its policy to include one week of paid leave and three weeks’ unpaid leave from the first day of employment. 

Nikunj Upadhyay, group inclusion and diversity director at Wates, commented: “I am delighted that we are continuing to improve our family-friendly offerings, especially our paternity/partner leave. These enhancements signal our commitment to creating an equitable, supportive, fair and inclusive work environment. 

“Our people promise is that our employees feel invested in and cared for. These offerings help us fulfil that promise by enabling colleagues to be with their families during important times and be their best at work as well. That is how we support all colleagues to thrive.”