Step into ABB’s world and witness their groundbreaking gender-neutral parental leave program. Discover how ABB fosters a gender-balanced and inclusive environment, breaking boundaries and paving the way for working families to thrive.
At ABB, as part of our 2030 sustainability strategy, we are committed to driving social progress, along with our customers, suppliers, and in our communities. Within ABB, we are creating safe, caring, equitable and inclusive working environments in which each of us can succeed and develop.
This Best Practice was first published in the Gender Intelligence Report 2023.
With our comprehensive diversity and inclusion framework, we have set the goal of promoting a diverse and inclusive company culture, and by 2030 we will double the number of women in senior management roles to 25 percent. In 2019, we showcased our best practice in empowering female trainees through the ‘Excelle program’. Today, we build upon that success by introducing our global gender-neutral parental leave program, representing a significant step towards equality in family models.
With the new program, we aim to support families and provide all parents with the opportunity to spend more time with their newborn or newly adopted children. It is part of our Diversity & Inclusion strategy and reflects our core company value of CARE. This program plays a significant role in reconciling work and family life and contributes to strengthening women and their career paths.
All employees at ABB with primary responsibility for a newborn or newly adopted child under three years of age are entitled to 16 weeks of paid parental leave. Secondary caregivers have access to four weeks of paid parental leave. These leaves can be taken within the first year following the birth or adoption of the child, in accordance with legal requirements. It is important to note that in Switzerland, there is no legally mandated entitlement to adoption leave. After the leave, employees return to their previous positions or are provided with a similar position with the same or better working conditions.
The introduction of the gender-neutral parental leave program has received significant internal and external interest and many positive reactions. ABB’s commitment and forward-thinking approach to implementing the program has been highly appreciated. An adoptive father at ABB reflects on his personal journey, highlighting how the company’s support enabled him to develop a strong bond with his child and gain confidence in his role as a father. He expresses gratitude for ABB’s inclusive approach to parental leave, which valued his role as a primary caregiver from the moment his adopted child became part of their family.
“ABB’s commitment to gender-neutral parental leave meant that I had the opportunity to bond with my son right from the beginning. The time we spent together is priceless, and it has created countless memories and precious stories that I will be able to share with him in the future.” – Adoptive father
Nicole Kamm Steiner also draws a positive conclusion, “We are immensely proud of ABB’s pioneering spirit, shaping our business model and also driving us to forge new paths in social responsibility. Gender-neutral parental leave is one of our initiatives, not just benefiting employees but making a meaningful contribution to advancing gender equality in society.”
For the future, we aim to further consider the emerging desire for a fully balanced division of caregiving between parents. Nicole Kamm Steiner adds, “We increasingly recognize the desire for a completely balanced division of caregiving between parents. Currently, our parental leave program still distinguishes between primary and secondary caregivers. We will explore how we can address this emerging demand.”
Numerous scientific studies consistently highlight the presence of biases against women in relation to their family responsibilities and professional careers. The Advance whitepaper 1/2023 ‘Climbing Higher’ further reinforces these findings. At ABB, we firmly believe that promoting greater equality in family models is crucial in dismantling and counteracting these biases. We recognize the significance of addressing these biases and creating an equitable environment that allows all employees, regardless of their family roles, to thrive and succeed.
With the introduction of gender-neutral parental leave, we have taken a step towards more equal family models. However, the journey to equally shared care work is not yet finished. It requires continued cultural change in society and the workplace. At ABB, we engage in further initiatives and projects, such as coaching programs for expectant parents and their managers, flexible work models, ABB childcare facilities, and employee networks that facilitate mutual exchange and learning. We are convinced that ABB actively contributes to shaping this cultural change. We continuously strive to create an inclusive company culture based on equality and care.
In our commitment to gender equality and fostering inclusive teams, ABB proudly chose the Advancine artwork ‘Inner Child’ by Tamara L. Thompson for International Women’s Day 2023, organized by Advance – Gender Equality in Business. The artwork perfectly captures the ABB value of curiosity and emphasizes early childhood imprinting. We believe that gender equality starts in childhood, and through this artwork, we aim to inspire young girls, ignite their passion for technology, and awaken their curiosity for technical careers.
Watch also Nora Teuwsen, Chairperson Country Management Committee ABB Switzerland, as she discusses the Advancine artwork ‘Inner Child’ in this Youtube video (in Swiss German). ABB demonstrates its dedication to fostering creativity, innovation, and gender equality throughout all stages of life. We believe that true innovation happens when diverse perspectives come together. We invite everybody to join us in breaking boundaries and shaping a more inclusive future. Let’s challenge the status quo and create a world where everyone, regardless of gender or family structure, can thrive in their personal and professional lives. Together, we can make a difference.
Nicole Kamm Steiner and Vera Keller have kindly offered to share their expertise on ABB Switzerland’s gender-neutral parental leave program. You can reach out to nicole.kamm-steiner@ch.abb.com and vera.keller@ch.abb.com.
This Best Practice was first published in the Gender Intelligence Report 2023.
The new parental leave policy offers 16 weeks of fully paid leave to all employees regardless of gender, supporting natural, adoptive, same/opposite sex partners, and single parents. The policy has been well-received by employees, fostering equity and inclusion, supporting the transition to parenthood, and contributing to improved retention and engagement.
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