Swiggy announced on Thursday its commitment to supporting employees in pet care and adoption by introducing a ‘Paw-ternity’ policy.
Girish Menon, Chief Human Resource Officer at Swiggy, explained, “Expanding on our gender-neutral parental policy launched in 2020, which offers significant paid leave for primary and secondary caregivers, along with bonding leaves and time off for adoption, surrogacy, miscarriage, and IVF, we are now broadening our concept of parenthood to include pet parents as well. Hence, starting today, we are introducing the Swiggy Paw-ternity Policy for all full-time employees.”
This policy grants employees an additional paid day off, apart from their annual leave entitlement, to welcome their new pets into their homes. The announcement was made on National Pet Day, observed on April 11. Menon stated in a blog post, “Pet parents may choose to work from home during the initial settling-in period to provide comfort and support to their new furry family members.”
Additionally, the policy allows pet parents to utilize their casual or sick leave without reservation to attend to their pets’ needs. Menon emphasized, “Whether it’s for routine vaccinations or accompanying a sick or injured pet to a veterinary appointment, the policy empowers employees to take the necessary time off to care for their pets.”
Swiggy will also provide bereavement leave for pet parents, recognizing the importance of allowing employees time to mourn and recover from the loss of their beloved pets.
