US-based food manufacturing business The JM Smucker Company, also known as Smucker’s, has enhanced its paid leave benefits for more than 7,000 employees, effective 1 January 2020.
The package of enhancements includes providing all new parents, whether by birth, adoption or fostering, with up to 12 weeks of fully paid leave; this is in addition to the organisation’s short-term disability benefit, which already provides birth mothers with up to 12 weeks of paid leave.
The JM Smucker Company has also introduced pet bereavement leave as part of its benefit changes, as well as an extended annual leave entitlement for staff with less than five years’ tenure. These employees will now receive three weeks of holiday, instead of the two weeks offered previously.
The leave enhancements are part of The JM Smucker Company’s total rewards programme; this is designed to support employees’ physical, financial and emotional wellbeing.
Jill Penrose, senior vice president, HR and corporate communications at The JM Smucker Company, said: “We are committed to the wellbeing of our employees and believe promoting work-life integration is a critical aspect of that commitment.
“These enhancements to the competitive benefits already offered will help our employees continue to thrive personally and professionally.
“[The] enhancements, which complement our existing support of flexible scheduling and remote work options, provide employees the opportunity to take the time they need to fully experience life’s important milestones and moments.
“In addition to being the right thing to do for our people, we also believe these updates will be beneficial for our business as they will allow employees to better focus on their professional responsibilities and continued development when they return to work.”