Albania 
Czech Republic 
Deutschland 
Greece 
Hungary 
Ireland 
Italy 
Luxembourg 
Netherlands 
Portugal 
Romania 
Spain 
United Kingdom 
Asia-Pac Middle East 
Turkey 
DR Congo 
Egypt 
Ghana 
Kenya 
Lesotho 
Mozambique 
Nigeria 
South Africa 
Tanzania 
At Vodafone, we recognise and celebrate everyone’s right to a healthy work/life balance, and we do everything we can to support our employees in whatever life choices they make. For professional people, the issues around starting a family and maintaining a career can be stressful and worrying, so our aim is to support all parents - to provide flexibility and choice to suit their needs, from birth to return to work. Here is a sampling of experiences from our international colleagues, sharing their personal parenthood journeys and the ways Vodafone supported them.
24th July 2024
Parents at Vodafone
My current specialism is in HR, with 7 years of experience at Vodafone Group within the HR COE function in the Talent Acquisition team. I am currently the Early Careers Programme Manager focusing on the signature “Discover” Graduate Programme and the Industrial Placements programme.
In Vodafone Group UK, the current maternity policy gives expectant mothers up to 52 weeks maternity leave, with maternity pay for the first 39 weeks. Throughout your pregnancy, you are entitled to paid time off for antenatal care and you can work up to 10 days whilst you are on maternity leave as Keeping in Touch (KIT) days. If you take at least 3 months leave, when you return you will only be required to work 80% of your contractual hours but you will receive 100% of your contractual pay and benefits for a period of 6 months.
For me, Vodafone has demonstrated a deep understanding of the challenges faced by new parents, providing flexible working hours and remote work options to accommodate my new responsibilities. The availability of childcare support and access to employee assistance programs has been invaluable in managing professional and personal demands, while inclusive culture and supportive measures have ensured that I feel valued and empowered as both a parent and a professional.
I was the second employee in the new Vodafone Innovation Hub, and now I am a Global Talent Acquisition, Employer Branding and Diversity & Inclusion specialist. I am passionate about creating an inclusive and diverse work environment where everyone feels valued and supported. My role allows me to connect with a wide range of talented individuals and help them find their place within Vodafone.
In Spain you can apply for pre maternity leave, 15 days before the expected date of birth, and you get 16 weeks leave for childbirth, split between 6 weeks straight after the birth and an additional 10 weeks to be taken at the time of your choice, until your child is 12 months old. There is additional leave available for extended hospital stays, and we have breastfeeding leave, which allows for slightly shorter working days or time off during the day.
I don't have to choose between being a mother or having an adequate career progression. Vodafone allows me both and I love it. The flexibility to work from home when needed and the support from my managers has been amazing. Parental leave and flexible working hours have been instrumental in helping me manage my responsibilities as a working parent. I feel valued.
I live in Düsseldorf and have worked at Vodafone for ten years. I started in Enterprise Sales and have been working in Finance Enterprise for the last three years. I returned to work in November 2023 after taking one year of maternity leave.
Vodafone Germany goes well beyond the legal minimum for maternity leave and pay in this country, with additional benefits such as ‘Betriebs-Kindergarten’ (company kindergarten), job share arrangements, or even financial support.
When I decided to return to work, the process was easy and smooth, with lots of support from managers and colleagues. This helped me balance my employee and family roles. I really appreciate the option to work from home, as well as the spirit and support given by Vodafone to all working parents.
I originally studied journalism and radio broadcasting, and still publish a podcast looking at the lighter side of business, called Money2Byrne. I started at Vodafone in November 2014 as an Inside Sales Rep., but in the last two years I have moved out of sales and into the Customer Success Manager role for our SAAS customers. It has been quite a learning curve, and I have the support of a great team to thank for a smooth transition into this role.
I work in the Irish SME market and here you get 42 Weeks of Maternity/Adoption leave of which 26 weeks are paid. As a Father I was able to receive 16 weeks of paid non birthing partner leave which meant I could enjoy some incredible time with my family. When I returned, my hours were ramped up so I could still be around for some of the big early milestones, like my son Henry’s first words.
Henry was born a few weeks early, and my then line manager and the head of Irish SME were incredible in their support, making sure I never once felt guilty if I had to rush into the hospital for an emergency. Since coming back to work the support has continued. When it comes to Maternity and Paternity leave, Vodafone well and truly walks the walk!
I have been part of the Marketing _VOIS team for nine years. I originally joined as a Customer Advocacy Programme specialist, and then lead several teams in the next nine years, such as . Through that, I gained some great experience in people and business management, and now I’m managing the CVM & Marketing Transformation Programme - a strategic project focused on future-fit operation in things like commercialization, G2M, career path, and future skills. I am also involved in the Vodafone Parents initiative. We provide resources, support, and networking opportunities to help parents balance their professional and personal lives. It's a great opportunity for me to give back and make a positive impact on the lives of my colleagues.
I’m based in Budapest, Hungary. For us, paid parental/ homecare leave in Hungary is available until the child’s third birthday and we have both paid maternity and paid paternity leave for working parents around childbirth. New mothers are entitled to 24 weeks paid maternity leave. All employed men in Hungary are entitled to five days of paid paternity leave.
I have taken maternity leave twice during my time at _VOIS. Both times, I was fully supported on my return to work by my managers, who found me roles that fitted my skillset and experience perfectly and helped with opportunities to continue my professional development. I now split my working day in two, which enables me to spend quality time with my children at the most important times of the day.
All my colleagues respect my working shifts; they never schedule meetings for me out of my working time. It’s fantastic to be part of the CVM & Marketing _VOIS team and I would like to say thank you to my previous manager, Tamás Sztaricskai and my current manager, Kaan Fisek for their professional support and guidance, for the trust and flexibility they provide to me.
