Asos launches new policies for health-related life events
Online fashion retailer Asos has launched a range of policies to support staff going through health-related life events.
The move is aimed at people experiencing events such as pregnancy loss, fertility treatment, the menopause and wider health related issues that require paid leave, such as cancer treatment or gender reassignment surgery.
Asos said the gender neutral policies will enable staff to take the time away from work that they need and will also increase awareness of the impact of this type of life event.
Nick Beighton, chief executive of Asos, explained: “All of us face unexpected challenges in life, and sometimes these can create very difficult circumstances which mean we need to step away from or change how we work. We’ve launched these new policies to reassure all Asosers that they will continue to be supported, personally and financially, throughout those difficult times. We’re here, no matter what it is and every step of the way.”
Staff who have suffered a pregnancy loss will be entitled to ten days paid leave. This will cover time off for miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy and abortion and will apply to the individual who was pregnant, to those whose partner was pregnant, or those who used a surrogate.
In addition, employees undergoing fertility treatment, or whose partner is doing so, will be entitled to an additional five days paid leave per cycle so they can attend and recover from appointments. The policy includes IVF, intrauterine insemination, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, surrogacy and egg freezing.
Asos will also provide ongoing support for appointments and flexible working as needed.
Meanwhile, staff will be able to take six weeks paid leave for a range of wider health-related and other life events and those going through the menopause will be offered flexible working.
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