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Portugal 
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Supporting you at every stage of life
All lives come with ups, downs, big changes, and new commitments. As an employer who wants everyone to thrive when they’re with us, we have a wide range of policies to make sure you’re supported at the times you need it most.
All our policies are inclusive and apply to everyone at Vodafone UK, no matter what their age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. And alongside the support you’ll get from us, our inclusion networks are there to support you too.
Support related to menopause
In 2021, we launched a commitment on menopause, rolling out a training and awareness programme to Vodafone colleagues around the world. It included a toolkit to help everyone understand the menopause and how to support colleagues, and family members with it. And to ensure all women can get the support they need at this stage in their life, we made our research and toolkit available for anyone to download.
This work was all in addition to our existing policy, which ensures colleagues who are experiencing the menopause can take leave for sickness and medical treatment, opt for flexible working, and access support through our Employee Assistance Programme.
As part of our support for menopause in the workplace, we have partnered with MenoHealth, the Best Menopause Support Service in the Healthcare & Pharma Awards 2023, to provide an informative programme that focuses on both the physical and mental wellbeing symptoms that people go through. We will be running monthly one-hour virtual sessions for all our people to attend. Whether they’re experiencing symptoms, or they’re a line manager or colleague that wants improve their education, the sessions are open to all our people to learn more.
Policies related to domestic violence and abuse
On International Women’s Day 2019, we launched a global Domestic Violence and Abuse Policy. It gives colleagues access to support and specialist counselling, as well as up to 10 days additional paid leave (recorded as general leave to ensure privacy) to help them manage their situation. They’re free to use this time for counselling, attending police or court appointments, moving house, or supporting their children. We also offer line manager training and have developed a toolkit with domestic abuse expert Dr Jane Pillinger.
And to help support those beyond Vodafone, our charities.connected initiative has given 10,000 SIMs to nearly 60 domestic abuse charities to help the people they support get online.
Policies for parents
Anyone who’s having a baby, adopting a child, or becoming a parent through surrogacy at Vodafone UK can take up to 16 weeks paid leave at any time during their first 18 months of becoming a parent. You also have the flexibility to work a 30-hour week for six months after this, to help you transition back to work.
Parents whose babies are born prematurely have the flexibility to adapt their leave to suit their situation. And any parent who sadly loses a child – whether that’s during pregnancy or up to their 18th birthday – are given two weeks’ paid leave.
Policies for carers
We understand many of our people care for others in their lives. To support you, we provide leave periods to help parents and carers take extra time when needed:
- Parents who care for a child, under 18 years old, can take up to18 weeks leave (four weeks per year), the first week being paid leave.
- Carers can take 2 weeks per year per dependent, the first week being paid leave.
Carers also get free access to Legal & General’s Care Concierge Service, which provides support and advice. This includes a 30-minute telephone session with a Care Expert to help you understand what care is needed, how to arrange it and how to cover the cost.
Armed Forces Network
The network offers a safe space to share experiences, obtain support and provide opportunities to get involved in different activities with a view to driving a diverse and inclusive workforce. With a Viva Engage Group for news and events, Reservist Support (10 days Training Allowance with full pay) and workshops held to support Veterans discharging via WIS (Aldershot), there's an abundance of support for our people at Vodafone.
As part of the Armed Forces Covenant, we are recognised with a 'Gold Award' in the employer recognition scheme. We are also proud to partner with Career Transition Partnership (CTP) to actively attract ex-military talent to Vodafone.