Bringing up babies: how multinationals can make the world a better place

Only once in my life have I considered giving it all up and quitting my job, because I was desperately seeking a solution to give my baby boy all the loving care he needed. We were working in Switzerland at the time; both my husband and I were pursuing very active career paths and no affordable day care arrangements seemed to be available. We eventually did find a solution, but I pondered that no one should really be obliged to make such dramatic choices. We all have multiple facets to our personalities and we are all entitled to the joys of parenting AND a fulfilling, successful career. 

I firmly believe that business leaders and companies such as Solvay can make a true difference in this respect. We can lay the groundwork for a better world by setting up a strong, supporting, non-blaming ecosystem in the workplace, to accompany the future female leaders, help them thrive and climb the ladder. Likewise - and perhaps more ambitiously - we can create the right conditions for their spouses to support them, by playing a more active role at home. I have seen so many men discover the joys of parenthood… with their grandchildren, and regretting that they did not spend more time with their own babies! It doesn’t have to be that way. 

That’s why we have further improved our Solvay Cares policy, which grants all Group employees a minimum set of benefits, no matter where they are located in the world. Since January 1 this year, all Solvay people are entitled to sixteen weeks of paid maternity, paternity & co-parent leave. The policy also includes parents who adopt. In most countries where we operate, this is a radical mark-up compared with existing legislation and demonstrates our ability, as a multinational, to become trend setters and push for the globalization of better conditions for all. 

Come to think of it, sixteen weeks is a very short period of time compared to a lifetime, but it can constitute a huge difference: It will make for healthier babies and happier parents… provided employers ensure an appropriate framework. 

As a woman, a wife and a mother, this initiative was understandably close to my heart. As a businesswoman and a global citizen, I am also very proud that we pushed this through, because we are creating a more inclusive workplace. Our paid leave benefits are available to all co-parents, irrespective of their gender or marital arrangements. All babies have an equal right to care and attention, regardless of their parents’ sexual orientation. 

Also, we are investing in the future: this improved Solvay Cares package contributes to the ‘Better Life’ pillar of our Solvay One Planet ambition. One of our 10 goals is gender parity for mid- and senior-level management by 2035 - and with this initiative, we are taking our inclusion and diversity program to the next level, to attract the best talent and shape a workforce that truly resembles the diverse world in which we serve.