A few weeks back, we tackled the controversial topic of Paternity Leave. And whether this workplace policy is a necessity in this day and age..or merely a modern luxury?
Work-life balance is a concept that has been promoted for as long as we can remember. But for the last couple of years, especially after the Covid-19 breakout, global markets started showing promising steps towards finally achieving this balance. And now it’s safe to say, the Egyptian market is no different.
Now, if you simply ask Google about companies with great paid leave policies, you’ll find tons of big names on the global market in tech, F&B, retail, finance and many more are joining by the day.
But what about working Egyptian couples looking to grow their families without actually jeopardizing their careers?
Despite not having an official law in Egypt supporting the cause till this very day, some Egyptian Corporates from the private sector took it upon themselves to acknowledge how a supportive work environment is simply a must for working moms and dads.
Today, we’re here to demonstrate one successful example. In their pursuit to promote flexibility, healthy work environment, and gender equality, Fine Hygienic Holding included a policy of paid paternity leave in 2019.
FHH Paternity Leave Policy:
This includes a 4 week leave with 3 fully paid weeks and one unpaid week. In addition to flexible working hours and arrangements for new fathers.
And as of March 2022, FHH updated its “parental leave Policy” to include days off for ‘Miscarriage/Stillbirth’ where Females get 5 consecutive working days of paid leave and the ability to extend to another 5 days of unpaid leave, whereas Male employees get 5 consecutive working days of paid leave.
Moreover, Fine Hygienic Holding believes that no woman should have to choose between building a career and starting a family. Hence, they provide 16 weeks at full pay, which go beyond the duration mandated by the International Labor Organization. In addition to such, FHH allows its ladies the option for an additional 16 weeks of unpaid maternity leave.
Other options for working moms include work from home option, shifting to part-time basis, return to work at 60% or 80% or 100%, daily breastfeeding breaks and many more flexible options!
Hats off to FHH for making its employees at the heart of their strategies and business model. Hopefully by knowing about this contribution, more and more workplaces will adopt the same or similar policies.
