[March 8th Women's Day] Motor Company launches 14-week maternity leave with full pay: Employees take better care of life

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Written by: Hou Cailin

2020-03-08 11:00

Working novice moms are under pressure and taking care of their babies. It's definitely not easy. The SAR government has proposed in 2018 to increase the statutory maternity leave from 10 weeks to 14 weeks, but has not yet completed the legislative process. However, a motor company in Hong Kong has implemented 14 weeks of full-paid maternity leave since last year, and prospective dads of the company can also enjoy 10-day paternity leave with full pay. The company's human resources department stated that it believes that employees can play a better job in the context of family and work.

In addition, the motor industry has always been regarded as dominated by male employees, but in fact many women have joined the industry, and Mango, a senior service sales engineer at the motor company, is one of them. Mango said that the work content is interesting, usually need to discuss with the customer the maintenance and repair of electrical equipment, but also need to personally go to the site, building and other processing equipment repair. Mango also encourages women to join the motor industry: "If you are interested in challenging work, then it is suitable for me."

Human Resources Director Li Jin (middle) said that female employees pay more attention to details and can provide more innovative ideas for the company. (Photo by Hou Cailin)

Majored in accounting, devoted to the motor industry, and contacted customers and technicians.

Mango joined Schneider Electric more than four years ago and is currently a Senior Service Sales Engineer. In addition to regular meetings with customers and building property management personnel to discuss maintenance and repair of electrical equipment, daily work needs to personally go to sites, buildings and other places to deal with equipment maintenance, so it is necessary to have a grasp of the operation of electrical equipment.

Mango said that he majored in accounting during college and worked as an audit company after graduation. Later, he came into contact with the electrical industry and found the work content interesting. "You can go out to the market and meet different customers every day." So he joined the current company. It is not easy to change from a business background to a career in the motor industry. Mango said: "I am a business background. Electricity (knowledge) is really difficult." In addition to studying hard, I also need to "contact many people, share many people." Clients and masters will naturally learn a lot. "

Mango encourages women to join the motor industry, "In fact, if you are interested in challenging work, it is suitable for me." (Photo by Hou Cailin)

Equality between men and women in the workplace

Mango's department has 90 employees, of which only 9 are female employees. When asked about the differences in work between men and women, Mango bluntly said: "I don't think there is a difference. The company treats men and women equally. I feel that there are many rates. " Mango also encourages women who want to join the power company. "In fact, if you are interested in challenging work, then it is suitable for me."

14 weeks maternity leave before the government and 10 days paternity leave

In addition, Mango is now five months pregnant, and she can then enjoy 14 weeks of maternity leave. However, the related holidays are not legally prescribed and are a result of the company's "one step ahead". In fact, as early as 2018, the government announced its intention to increase statutory maternity leave from 10 weeks to 14 weeks. The bill is still being submitted to the Human Services Committee for consideration. However, due to the new crown pneumonia epidemic, multiple meetings of the Legislative Council last month needed to be rescheduled or cancelled. The bill has not yet been reviewed. Under current labour legislation, male employees are entitled to five days of statutory paternity leave.

The company, ahead of the government, launched 14 weeks of maternity leave last year, and employees can enjoy full pay during maternity leave. Beginning this year, "quasi-daddy" employees will also be entitled to paternity leave with full pay for 10 days. In addition, if an employee adopts a child, the employee who is the primary caregiver can also enjoy a 14-week full paid holiday, and the employee who is the auxiliary caregiver can enjoy a 10-day full paid holiday. Same-sex marriage partners can also enjoy paid leave for primary or secondary childcare based on their family role. The company's human resources director Li Jin said that he hopes that employees can take care of family and work, and believes that it will help employees perform better at work.

Human Resources Director Li Jin (middle) believes that although female employees are more emotional, it is not a bad thing, but they can come up with more innovative ideas. (Photo by Hou Cailin)

Female employees pay more attention to detail and can provide innovative ideas

Li Jin also pointed out that 35% of employees in Hong Kong companies are currently women. And 23% of the company's global leadership are women, and the company expects to increase the proportion to 30% by the end of this year. Li Jin said that most people think that men will have more advantages in the motor industry, but in fact women are more focused on details. At the same time, women are more emotional than men, but it is not a bad thing. Women can provide more innovative ideas and solutions.

In addition, the company also pays attention to the "equal pay for equal work" of male and female employees. The company regularly reviews the salary of employees and strives to maintain the median salary gap between male and female employees at the same level below 2%. At the same time, the company also set up a female employee sharing group last year to allow female executives to "show up" and share career development with female employees.

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International Women's Day workplace maternity leave paternity leave