Bristol-Myers Squibb Expands Parental Leave and Caregiver Benefits
PRINCETON, N.J., March 9, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Employees at Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) work passionately to advance science for patients with serious diseases, and now its U.S. employees are being given expanded paid time off for critical life events including caregiving for seriously ill family members and the care of newborn, foster or adoptive children. The new, generous, inclusive family-friendly benefits launched this year are part of the company’s commitment to meeting the needs of its diverse workforce through an innovative, market-leading approach.
“We realize that our employees can work best when they feel their responsibilities at home and at work are being supported. The benefits we’ve added provide additional flexibility when their families need them the most,” said Ann Powell Judge, Chief Human Resources Officer. “At Bristol-Myers Squibb, we are committed to ensuring that we develop, empower and reward our employees so they can deliver on our mission of bringing innovative medicines to patients.”
Bristol-Myers Squibb’s inclusive new family care leave program broadens the definition of family to include all types of caregivers and family members of all ages who need care. Each eligible employee caregiver – from those caring for an ill family member to new parents of birth, foster, or adoptive children – may take up to eight weeks of paid leave. The program is open to all U.S. employees, including hourly workers provided they meet the eligibility requirements for the program.
For Ryan and Heather Fischer, the expanded benefits couldn’t have come at a better time. The parents of two-year-old Adelaide are both employees at Bristol-Myers Squibb. On January 24, the Fischers welcomed their second daughter Colette into their lives. With dual benefits since they are both employees, the couple is eligible for eight weeks of paid family care leave each to care for their young family.
“When the company announced the new program last fall, I was ecstatic,” said Ryan, digital capability manager, Global Regulatory and Safety Systems at Bristol-Myers Squibb. He has already used two weeks of his paid time off to help Heather, forecasting analyst for clinical trials, Business Insights & Analytics, at Bristol-Myers Squibb. “When Heather goes back to work in April, after using her paid short-term disability time off as well as parental leave benefits, I’ll take another couple of weeks so I have more bonding time with my new daughter.”
Flexibility is a key feature of the program. Just as Ryan is breaking up his time off, all eligible employees can use their paid leave all at once or in intervals throughout the year, based on their personal situations and consistent with the policy terms.
Paid family care leave programs like Bristol-Myers Squibb’s result in talent retention benefits and improve employee motivation, productivity and health, according to recent reports.
The Bristol-Myers Squibb program helps the company achieve its commitment to attracting and retaining the best talent to help discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases.
“Our expanded family care leave program is consistent with the value we place on our people as our key competitive advantage,” said Judge.
Learn more about Bristol-Myers Squibb’s commitment to employees and patients by visiting Working with Us.
About Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about Bristol-Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.
