A&K offers minimum 18 weeks paid parental leave

A&K Travel Group will now provide a minimum of 18 weeks paid parental leave for both care-givers, setting a new standard for the travel industry.

By providing 18 weeks of paid time off for all new parents, regardless of gender, A&K Travel Group is not only enabling parents to spend valuable time with their newborns but also taking a proactive approach to breaking gender stereotypes and promoting equality in the workplace.

“We have been evaluating the benefits offered to our employees around the world and have introduced the first of what we hope will be many initiatives to improve our global offerings and cement our position as the number one travel brand to work for,” A&K’s Chief HR officer Kim Berman said.

A&K Travel Group CEO Cristina Levis said it was extremely important that employees from all offices receive fair treatment regardless of what local policies prescribe, expressing:

“We are incredibly proud to be at the forefront of the travel industry in offering this progressive parental leave package. By providing equal opportunities for parents to bond with their new children, we are not only investing in the well-being of our employees but also taking a significant step towards levelling the playing field for all of our employees,” she said.

The introduction of this industry-leading parental leave policy across the group includes Abercrombie & Kent, Crystal and Sanctuary Retreats in Australia.

Abercrombie & Kent says it is expected to have far-reaching benefits, including increased employee satisfaction, improved retention rates, and a more diverse and inclusive workplace culture. 

In February last year, the Australian Services Union announced it had negotiated an industry-best paid parental leave deal at Qantas, on behalf of workers. The scheme includes 18 weeks of primary carer’s leave, as well as 10 weeks of secondary carers leave, making it among the best in Australia.