Amazon MENA has outlined a new paid parental leave policy set to benefit employees across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. Benefits are offered to new parents, regardless of gender, as the region strives to accelerate towards a gender-balanced workforce.
New parents who have completed one year of service are eligible for up to six weeks of paid parental leave, following the birth of a child. Mothers can additionally choose to add the six weeks of parental leave to the 14 weeks of maternity leave, allowing up to 20 weeks of paid time off, including the month before birth.
“Amazon places great emphasis on providing its employees with meaningful options to balance their professional and personal commitments. We take pride in our pursuit to listen, implement and evolve our employee experience to ensure that all parents are supported to thrive both at work and at home,” said Ronaldo Mouchawar, Vice President, Amazon MENA.
“Our parental leave policies are another step to unleash the full potential of every person, regardless of gender. Achieving gender balance in the workplace is critical for the region’s economic growth and the key to creating a thriving and sustainable society.”
As part of the new parental benefits, Amazon also provides a “Ramp-Back” programme that offers parents eight consecutive weeks of flexible and partial work hours to support adjustment to work schedules as new parents.
“A parent’s return-to-work plan after the birth of a child is just as important as the leave itself. Our ‘Ramp-Back’ program allows new parents to ease their transition back to the workplace and customize their schedules, giving them the flexibility to prioritize family responsibilities as they resume work following their parental leave,” said Bikram Walia, Director, Human Resources, Amazon MENA.
“Amazon’s parental leave policies are designed with the broader view of easing the burden on primary caregivers, by providing parental benefits to both parents. We aim to support families with the time and space to focus on their child, giving them the confidence that as an employer we fully recognize and support their journey during this special life stage.”
“Welcoming a new baby brings with it a whole host of adjustments both at home and at work. One of the things I appreciate most about Amazon is the support for maternity, which meant I could take up to five months of leave,” said Sonam Arora, Regional Category Leader at Amazon in the UAE, who spoke about her maternity experience.
“My manager was very supportive in ensuring that this did not impact my career path and my team pitched in to help. My ramp-back program was customized so that I could devote the time that my baby needed, while still giving me the space to get back into the rhythm of work.”
Beyond parental leave benefits, Amazon aims to enhance employee experience by creating an all-inclusive work environment through various initiatives.
Mother’s rooms – Amazon offices and operation sites are equipped with dedicated Mother’s rooms.
Frustration-free leave experience – To ensure that the parental leaves remain hassle-free, a dedicated ‘leave services’ team helps plan and schedule parental leaves.
Community networks – Amazon offers community support delivered through groups for working parents which encourages knowledge sharing, fosters career growth and cultivates community connections while advocating for policies for women with children.
Follow us on
