Male employees of FLOW will also get paid paternity leave

Public Relations Manager at St. Kitts and Nevis Social Security Board- Kamilah Lawrence, applauded FLOW for executing a regular paternity policy and urged other corporations to view similar actions in the attention of their workers’ well-being.

In June 2019, Flow declared a new policy announcing paid leave for fathers, adoptive or foster parents and increasing time off for new mothers.

The new policy implemented by FLOW presents 16 weeks of paid leave for mothers who would have given birth. It has also approved to give eight weeks of paid leave for the fathers, adoptive and foster parents, as well as any employee who becomes a surrogate parent.

Earlier, only employees who had permanent jobs were granted 12 weeks of maternity leave, but the new policy would benefit bother mother and father, whether permanent or temporary.

Previously, only permanent employees were allowed to have 12 weeks of maternity leave. But, the newer implementations would benefits both mothers and fathers, whether permanent or temporary.

“I want to compliment first of all FLOW for that action, and I want to urge other companies to get on track and to implement the same for their workers because studies show that a team that feels honoured is more productive and pleasant. So, I want to entreat other companies and businesses to do the same,” stated Ms Lawrence during her December 09 presentation on ‘Working for You.’

Ms Lawrence transcribed that paternity leave is not currently enrolled as a paid benefit of Social Security.

“So, this sort of care and assistance is something that should be supported because we know that bigger families are safer communities for us. A more active family means individuals who are more educated, people who are admired and appreciated, and all those things draw into the other social ill, so this is very important,” said Ms Lawrence.

She continued that the idea of allowing the paid leave to biological parents, and those who would have taken an infant into their home for placement, or as a consequence of adoption or foster care, is excellent.