BAT Pledges New Benefits for all New Parents Worldwide

PR75824

LONDON, Oct. 23, 2018 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/--

British American Tobacco (BAT), which employs more than 55,000 people, is

delighted to announce the launch of a new range of benefits available in all of

the countries it operates in throughout the world - with the aim of helping its

new parents to balance their home and work lives during the demanding and

exciting first year of parenthood.

     (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/771688/BAT_Logo.jpg )

Effective globally from 1 January 2019, the new initiative insists on a minimum

of 16 weeks' fully paid maternity leave for new mothers and adoptive parents

and also includes a return to work guarantee, flexible working opportunities

and an online advice service offering coaching support for all parents whenever

they need it.

Today's announcement will make a major difference in many of the 180 countries

in which the Group operates - offering significantly better terms than existing

legal requirements in a number of markets, including its US business Reynolds

American Inc, which was acquired by the BAT Group in 2017, where new mothers

currently receive on average only six weeks paid leave, in line with U.S

legislation.  

Some of the other countries who will benefit from the minimum 16 weeks' fully

paid maternity leave element of this new initiative, include: Indonesia, South

Korea, Taiwan, Nigeria, Argentina, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt and Pakistan. In

total, this new benefit will go above and beyond local requirements in 26

countries where BAT directly employs 20,000 people.

Nicandro Durante, CEO at British American Tobacco, said:

"Here at BAT, it's of such great importance to us that our organisation is made

up of as many different types of people as possible - ensuring they are

rewarded, appreciated and supported, especially at times when they need it most.

"We want to ensure no-one at BAT has to choose between their career and their

family and that's why this will be available to colleagues all over the world.

We are proud to be offering this new range of parental benefits on a global

scale and we are looking forward to seeing the changes this will hopefully make

to the lives of both our current and future employees."

The three key pillars to the new package of global parental benefits are:

16 weeks' minimum pay and a return to work guarantee - wherever you are in the

world  

Although BAT already goes above and beyond local legislation in many of the

countries it operates in, Parents@BAT will ensure all new mothers and adoptive

parents will receive a minimum of 16 weeks of paid maternity leave, regardless

of location, with BAT supplementing statutory pay where required. A return to

work guarantee means that all new mothers who are on maternity leave (or

parents who are on adoption leave) for 12 months or less will be able to return

to their previous job, or a suitable alternative wherever reasonably

practicable.

Flexible work opportunities - recognising the modern world we live in

All new parents and adopters will have the opportunity to request flexible

working arrangements following their return to work during the first year of

the child's birth or arrival. Depending on role and location, this could mean

one or more days off per working week, reduced working hours or the flexibility

to work from home subject to local business requirements.

Online parental coaching support - support at a time when new parents need it

most

BAT has created an informative on-line coaching service - 'Parents@BAT Online'

- to not only help new parents, but also to ensure line managers are fully

prepared for career discussions and equipped to support those returning to

work.  It aims to answer some of the questions new parents didn't even know

they would have - providing tips and advice to help make the transition from

maternity or adoption leave that little bit easier.

Already going above and beyond in many countries across the world  

While Parents@BAT provides minimum guidelines, BAT's support for new parents

already goes far beyond these, and local statutory requirements, in many

countries. In the UK, for example, parents on maternity leave receive six

months' full pay and pro-rata bonus, statutory pay for three months and a

return to work guarantee.

NOTES TO EDITORS  

This will be effective in all countries worldwide from 1 January 2019.

About British American Tobacco

British American Tobacco (BAT) is one of the world's leading, multi-category

consumer goods companies, that provides tobacco and nicotine products to

millions of consumers around the world. It employs over 55,000 people, with

market leadership in over 55 countries and factories in 42. Its Strategic

Portfolio is made up of its global cigarette brands and an increasing range of

potentially reduced-risk products, comprising vapour and tobacco heating

products, as well as oral tobacco and nicotine products such as moist snuff and

snus.

In 2017 the Group generated reported revenue of £20 billion and profit from

operations of £6.5 billion. In July 2017, British American Tobacco p.l.c.

acquired the remaining 57.8% of Reynolds American Inc. that BAT did not already

own, creating a stronger, global tobacco and nicotine company.

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Source: British American Tobacco

In 2017 the Group generated reported revenue of 20 billion British pounds and

profit from operations of 6.5 billion British pounds. In July 2017, British

American Tobacco p.l.c. acquired the remaining 57.8% of Reynolds American Inc.

that BAT did not already own, creating a stronger, global tobacco and nicotine

company.