The Warehouse Group will offer fully paid parental leave for up to 26 weeks to all 12,000 of its employees, starting January 1 next year.

The new initiative will be available to all permanent workers across distribution and fulfilment centres, as well as stores and support offices for its brands: The Warehouse, Warehouse Stationery, Noel Leeming, Torpedo7 and TheMarket.com.

Chief human resources officer for the group, Richard Parker, said the business will also continue topping up workers’ KiwiSaver contributions, and will keep accruing annual leave at the normal rate.

“We want to support our team members to enjoy time with their new arrivals and this move provides more financial security at a time that really matters to families,” Parker said.

“We also wrap support around our team members as they return with our ‘ease back to work’ programme, where for the first four weeks our people take one day off per week, but continue to be paid as normal.

“For partners, we offer paid leave within 21 days either before or after the new addition joins the family.”

The Warehouse Group said the entitlements extend to workers who are pregnant or expecting to have permanent responsibility for a child under six years of age: either through adoption, permanent care, whangai, or permanent guardianship.

First Union national organiser Ben Peterson supported The Warehouse Group’s move.

“This will provide team members with fairer financial support, but also gives parents the option to transition back to work at a time that works for their family,” Peterson said.

“We’re pleased to see the entitlements extend to all permanent team members.”