Startup News Magazine

ON PURPOSE’s new inclusive parental policy 

The creative communications consultancy launched a campaign #TwoIsTooLittle to address all forms of new parenthood.

 Bengaluru, February 7: ON PURPOSE, a creative communications consultancy, launched a landmark parental leave policy offering inclusive employee benefits to new parents, primary and secondary caregivers as well as pet parents.

ON PURPOSE understands the realities and needs of modern-day parenting and recognises the integral role of securely bonding with their baby/child/pet in the first critical weeks to give them the best possible start in life.

While the industry standard for paternity leave is just two weeks, the agency introduces a new 12-week leave policy for fathers and partners. Through the #TwoIsTooLittle campaign, ON PURPOSE hopes to inspire other workplaces in the country to adopt similar inclusive policies.

The new parental policy aims to cover all instances of new parenthood as it extends to new parents who choose birth, adoption, surrogacy, or IVF, as well as compassionate leave for parents who experience loss during pregnancy.

 Key features of the policy

ON PURPOSE’s new paid parental leave policy gives employees up to:

  • 26 weeks paid parental leave at full pay for birthing people
  • 12 weeks paid paternity leave
  • 12 weeks paid leave for parents by law (adoption and surrogacy)
  • Six weeks of paid leave In the event of a miscarriage or stillbirth during any time of the term
  • Employees with breastfeeding/chestfeeding infants are also entitled to time-off or time away from their desks(work)

It is not all. ON PURPOSE celebrates families and believes that having a pet comes with responsibility and is a family member who needs care and love equally. The organisation has curated leaves for pet parents, offering 7-day time-off when an employee adopts a new pet.

Speaking about the initiative, Girish Balachandran, Founder, ON PURPOSE, said, “Social change must start at home. As an organisation committed to driving social change in India, the launch of our new parental policy is an integral milestone to challenge gender stereotypes and build an inclusive workplace. It’s time to share the load, share the लाड (laad).”

In May 2021, ON PURPOSE also introduced ‘Period Chutti’, a menstrual policy that offers an additional six days of paid leave for all employees who menstruate. It was initiated to support its employees to rest while not having to use their sick leave since periods are not a sickness. Additionally, the policy aims to remove the stigma surrounding menstruation and make it a normal conversation at the workplace.