Employees of Sandals Resorts International (SRI) are still applauding the company for its recently enhanced ‘Time Away from Work Policy’.

The unprecedented move, aimed at further prioritising employee well-being, has set a new standard in the hospitality industry with team members across the company’s Caribbean resorts having access to birthday and paternity leave entitlements.

Effective April 26, SRI team members were able to access paid day off to celebrate their birthdays.

Encouraging them to embrace the activities that bring joy and rejuvenation, the benefit applies to all team members whether or not their birthdays fall on a scheduled work day. Team members also have within 30 days to take the day off if circumstances prevent them from taking the leave on their actual birthday.

In addition, from May 1 full-time male team members, who become fathers and have been with the company for at least one year, started receiving one week of paid paternity leave, giving them even more time to bond with their children.

“Our team members are really appreciative and many have started accessing these additional benefits. They welcome the company’s commitment to playing a greater role in further promoting work-life balance,” Ryan Matthew, corporate director, human resources at SRI, told the Jamaica Observer.

The announcement of the enhanced Time Away From Work Policy was made by the company’s Executive Chairman Adam Stewart, at a recent employee town hall meeting, to jubilant cheers as team members celebrated the news.

“We are a family and our company culture places high value on work-life balance. Personal and family time are crucial to well-being. These incentives are designed to acknowledge and support those significant moments in our team members’ lives that they need to spend with their loved ones,” said Stewart, who is also executive chairman of the Observer.

It was underscored that the introduction of the paternity leave initiative marked a pioneering step for Sandals, positioning the company among a small number of private sector entities in the Caribbean to extend this benefit to its workforce.

“I was thrilled to share the news of Sandals offering paternity leave with my wife who was just as excited as I am. It is commendable that Sandals has recognised the active role we as fathers play in the home when it comes to child rearing. Good job!” shared Jason Martin, entertainment manager at Sandals Royal Caribbean.

For mother of two and assistant accountant at Sandals Negril, Monique Munroe, this is a massive move forward for the company she proudly works for.

“Being able to get your birthday off from work is definitely a big deal for me. Not to mention the paternity leave for fathers. I am a mom and I know the impact it will have on the family when dad gets to be there during those crucial first days. This is what you call having our best interest at heart,” said Munroe.

The birthday and paternity leave incentives are paid time off that include full base pay and gratuity for all eligible team members across the company’s 21 resorts.