HEAD of the Human Resource Management Association of Jamaica (HRMAJ) Lois Walters is urging private sector companies to follow the recent policy shift by the Government, which has resulted in the introduction of paid paternity leave in the public sector along with increased maternity and adoption leave.

Under the arrangement, which kick-started on January 1 this year, Jamaican fathers are now entitled to a 20-day period of paid absence for at least ‘three occasions’.

The 2004 Public Sector Staff Orders have been updated to reflect the inclusion of adoption leave and the increase of paid maternity leave from 40 days to a period of 60 working days; the result of the current public sector compensation review, which is intended to overhaul the structure of salaries and other emoluments in the public service

Paternity leave, which is defined as a “scheduled period of absence from duties with pay to which male employees are entitled for the purpose of spending time with, nurturing and caring for a newborn”, is a period of 20 working days and can be accessed for three births only.

“From HRMAJ’s point of view, it is a good thing for the space, it’s a good thing for workers, anything that benefits the worker like that workers, HRMAJ celebrates that. It is something we must encourage because we want a society where fathers are more involved in taking care of their children and this provides that opportunity in the space,” Walters told the Jamaica Observer.

Noting that countries across the world have adopted similar measures in different ways, Walters said, “the more time you spend with a child, nurturing them, bringing them up, letting them know that they are loved and special, it goes a far way. The family is the foundation of everything and so leave helps the family spend time together and nurture that. We don’t know when our end will come, so if a child has its parents at the beginning, if something happens, at least they would have had that time at the beginning.”

She said while the policy is not a national policy but is confined to State-run agencies, the private sector could not lose by following suit.

“The private sector would have to now examine their situation, examine where they are and where possible [to] implement these family-friendly policies. Clearly, depending on the entity, maybe not all companies can give as much [leave] but some probably could; so it’s something that every organisation has to look at and out of looking make a decision that is beneficial to both the employee and the organisation,” the HRMAJ head said.

“Depending on the nature of the job, it will work for some organisations. HRMAJ would encourage each organisation to look at their situation and discuss with employees and see where a compromise can be reached. I know Scotiabank does it, Sagicor does it; the big ones do it. HRMAJ encourages companies to look at it and discuss it and see how best it could work,” Walters added.

Under the new policy, full-time male employees 18 years and above with at least 12 months of continuous service, whether contracted or in a confirmed post, are eligible to apply for paternity leave. Part-time male employees with at least 12 months of continuous service and who are working at least 18 hours per week are also eligible. The employee must, however, provide “official documentation” showing that he is the registered father of the child. Paternity leave, however, can only be granted within the first six months of delivery. Multiple births of the same pregnancy (twins, triplets, etcetera) will not increase the number of days granted for paternity leave. However, paternity leave can be granted as one full allotment or in two instalments if requested by the employee. The minimum period of one instalment is five working days. If additional time is needed after the expiration of paternity leave, approval can be given for vacation leave and/or leave without pay up to 10 working days to be granted. In the event of a stillbirth or if a baby dies six months after birth, the leave will still be granted, provided that documentation showing proof is presented.