Partner Leave: 12 Weeks Support to New Parents
At Shell we believe that all parents deserve support with the arrival of a new baby or child into the family. We also know that there are many ways to form a family and we want to ensure all parents feel supported. That’s why, from January 2023 Shell in the UK launched Partner Leave: an enhanced period of 12 weeks’ paid leave for all new parents who are not taking maternity, adoption or surrogacy leave.
Partner Leave
We have heard many stories of the positive impact that this time has made to distribute care across parents and spend this special time as a family when a new child enters the family. We spent some time catching up with colleagues who have already used Partner Leave this year, here is what they said:
Simply put, I think it is an amazing benefit. When we had our first child, I was only able to take the 2 weeks of statutory, and my wife and I used the SPL scheme for me to take another month off, but that was at 80% pay. The new scheme is really generous with 12 weeks of full pay! It's great, because it is such a special time when a new child enters the family, and also enabled us to spend more time with the grandparents. This time around, I'm really looking forward to having the time to look after our three year old, and spend some time with him as he also adjusts to our new reality. These occasions only happen once, so I'm very grateful to Shell for its generosity and forward thinking.
Michael Parkes, EV Design Engineer
Foremost, Partner Leave was an opportunity for me to give time back to my wife who had taken on most of the care whilst I was working. It was the head space we needed to reset our family norms in a way that had not been possible whilst working. And most importantly, it was the precious gift of time that allowed us to fully appreciate the many joys of our newest family member.
I’m truly thankful for this policy, and proud to work for a company that so meaningfully celebrates the differences between people, and the many ways in which we make and support our families.
Stephen Burkill, Consultant Organisation Development
This enhanced benefit has been so precious for me and my family. It allowed me to spend invaluable time bonding with my daughter during those early months, ensuring she got the love and care she deserved. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Shell Energy for recognizing the importance of work-life balance and the significance of supporting employees in their personal journeys. This initiative not only benefits individuals and families but also strengthens our workplace culture. I know there are other businesses out there that offer great benefits for parental leave but I think there is still opportunity for more companies to be as inclusive as possible for non-birth parents so they can support their families as best as possible. Let's continue to support each other and champion initiatives that make our workplace a better and more inclusive environment for all!
Robbie McNish, Talent Acquisition Partner
