Becoming a new parent can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life, but as a full-time employee, it can also be one of the most challenging. As a working mother myself, I understand the difficulty of going on parental leave. You try to pack everything you need to do in your few weeks off, and then plan for child care when you go back to work. I’m sure many can relate to the stress, anxiety, and excitement of this time in a parent’s life.
With the busy world we live in today, it has become a mission for many companies to recognize that their people require flexibility to balance their family lives with their careers. In my first few months as Pega’s Chief People Officer, I quickly learned that our people are highly talented and motivated, they care about the work they are doing, and most of all, they are what makes Pega, Pega. When reviewing our benefits for 2019, it was a personal goal to make sure they were reflective of the people receiving them.
As Pega continues to grow, we remain committed to embracing a diverse workforce, and want to ensure support for the diversity of family structures that exist and continue to change. We understand how essential it is for new parents to have time to bond with their new child and transition to a new family dynamic – regardless of what that looks like. I am so pleased that we have implemented a program that will support new parents of any family style and ease their return to work at Pega for 2019.
Our improved leave program for new parents, both biological and adoptive offers:
- Primary parental leave – 20 weeks, paid at 100% of base pay
- Secondary parental leave – 4 weeks, paid at 100% of base pay
Then, to ease their return to work, the primary parent can choose to work four days a week for their first month back, still being paid for a full five days at 100% of base pay.
We are thrilled to be able to extend this special time for families and want to make this transition period as seamless as possible. This program reflects the importance of our employees, and that we are committed to not only our people, but their families, and our communities as well. I am excited to continue looking for ways that support, encourage, and enable a healthy work-life balance. I am so happy to be at a company that cares about its employees and understands the importance of “family first.”
We’re on a mission to connect, engage, and empower people. Visit Careers at Pega for a full listing of available opportunities around the globe, and follow us on Twitter , LinkedIn , Facebook, and Glassdoor. Plus, check out how our global team members engage in #LifeAtPega .