Accenture India increases paid maternity leave to over 5 mths

Accenture has increased maternity -leave benefits for its full-time and part-time women employees in India to 22 weeks, up significantly from the current statutory requirement of 12 weeks.
The new policy took effect on this month.
A large number of women discontinue their careers as they find it difficult to balance work and family commitments.
"We want to help our people balance life and career choices, supporting them through the joys and challenges of parenting, as they continue to focus on their careers," Accenture's Human Resource lead for India Parag Pande said.
The new policy also allows additional unpaid leave for another 12 weeks, the global management consultancy firm said in a release.

Employees also may take an additional four weeks of paid leave if there is an illness directly related to the mother's pregnancy, it added.
Accenture also offers its employees in India up to eight weeks of fully paid adoption leave for primary caregivers, as well as one week of paid paternal leave for new fathers.