Telecoms company Vodafone has said it is to offer employees 16 weeks of fully paid parental leave.

The firm says this follows the introduction of a new policy designed to support families.

It means that any employee whose partner is having a baby, adopts a child or becomes a parent through surrogacy can take four months of paid leave at any time during the first 18 months.

As part of the new policy, employees will also be able to phase their return from parental leave, by working the equivalent of a 30-hour week at full pay for a further six months.

It is part of a global policy from the Vodafone Group.

File photo of the Vodafone logo | Image: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie

It will launch in Ireland in April 2020 and be available to all non-birthing parents - regardless of their gender, sexual orientation or length of service.

Prior to the launch, Vodafone Ireland says it will continue to top up the statutory paternity leave to full pay.

Vodafone Group CEO Nick Read says: "Diversity and inclusion are core to our beliefs and purpose at Vodafone.

"We are proud to support all families by giving every parent the opportunity to have more time with their children, without worrying about the impact on their finances or careers."

Vodafone Ireland CEO Anne O'Leary adds: "At Vodafone Ireland, we are committed to the fundamental principle of inclusion for all, and we're proud that with this pioneering policy, all parents in our organisation can benefit from greater balance between their work and family life.

Graham Hughes is a Vodafone Ireland employee who will be first to benefit from the new policy.

He says: "This policy will have a huge positive impact in the weeks and months before and after the baby is born, giving myself and my family peace of mind.

"I'll be able to spend more time with the baby during the initial stages and help take care of the other children, making things so much easier for my wife and kids, allowing me to be involved in such a critical and important stage."

Main image: Anne O’Leary, Vodafone Ireland CEO; James Magill, Vodafone Ireland HR director; employee Evelyn Browne and her children Murphy (4) and Lenny (3 mths) employee Graham Hughes and his children Robin (2) and Calum (18mts) | Image: Supplied