Danone Expands Parental Leave to 3,500 Manufacturing Colleagues, Promoting Gender Equity for All

Newly enhanced policy provides 18 weeks of leave, on a gender-neutral basis to all 5,700 U.S. employees

By Danone | Published 3 years ago | About a 1 minute read

Danone North America, a leader in fresh dairy and plant-based products, and the world's largest Certified B Corp, announced today that it is expanding its gender-neutral Parental Bonding Leave policy to its manufacturing employees, enabling them to take up to 18 weeks' paid time off after the birth or adoption of their child. This benefit is now available to all the company's 5,700 U.S. employees, whether they work in an office or in one of Danone's 14 manufacturing facilities across the country.

The policy – effective company-wide today – is an evolution of the company's previous practice of providing its frontline manufacturing employees up to 2 weeks of paid leave in addition to allowing the use of paid time off or vacation for such absences. The policy, which can be taken anytime within the first year of a child's birth or adoption date, is applicable to either parent, recognizing that parenting is a shared responsibility between caregivers. It is intended to create a more equitable workplace and in doing so, challenge traditional assumptions on caregiving and help advance equality for all.

Read the full release here.