What: John Lewis takes an unprecedented step in the UK retail landscape in terms of employee support when it comes to parental leave.

Why it is important: To make the retail career attractive again, some perks are required. This will involve additional spending and investments from Department Stores HR.

John Lewis is offering its 80,000 workers a new package, effective this autumn, regarding parental leave for birth: all parents-to-be with a minimum of one year in the company will be granted a paid leave of six months, or 26 weeks (full pay for the first 14 weeks and then 50%). This package will be proposed to both men and women, and is thought to contribute to the fight against the gender pay gap, according to Dame Sharon White, the chairwoman of the group.

In the UK, mothers-to-be are legally entitled to 90% of their pay for the first 6 weeks, and then the lower between GBP151,97 per week or 90% of their pay, for the next 33 weeks. Fathers-to-be are entitled to the same money, but with one or two consecutive weeks’ leave maximum.

John Lewis to offer equal parental leave to all staff