Vodacom Group enhances employee offerings to endorse inclusivity and promote well-being.

Vodacom Group, recently ranked by the Top Employers Institute as the continent's number one employer, has now enhanced some of its employee offerings as part of its commitment to creating an inclusive work environment across its markets. With an emphasis on Compassion, Acceptance, Respect and Empathy (C.A.R.E.), the company's enhanced wellness initiatives include support for all stages of life, such as menopause, and a more encompassing family responsibility leave policy.

"Our employees are the heart of Vodacom. We believe that their well-being contributes directly to our success as a company in fulfilling our purpose of connecting for a better future. By enhancing our employee value proposition through empathetic and inclusive policies and practices, we are creating a workplace culture where people feel empowered to thrive and make a positive impact on their career journey," says Matimba Mbungela, Chief Human Resources Officer for Vodacom Group.

In a recent research report by Perspectus, almost half of the women surveyed do not feel supported by their workplace during menopause, which can affect productivity and overall employee wellbeing. As part of Vodacom's C.A.R.E. approach and driving gender equality, the company allows for flexible working arrangements should symptoms of menopause and menstruation be too debilitating to work in the office.

In addition, Vodacom has extended its family responsibility leave benefit for all employees to use if they or a family member is experiencing a major illness, ongoing medical treatment, hospitalisation, trauma or recovery, and during periods of a pandemic. The additional five days of leave offered by Vodacom is over and above the standard traditional family responsibility and compassionate leave policies, which generally only take into account the death of parents or grandparents, birth of grandchildren, illness of children or a spouse, and religious holidays.

As a purpose-led organisation, Vodacom was one of the first organisations in Africa to provide a gender-neutral parental leave policy alongside its existing six months' maternity leave policy. The policy provides 16 weeks of fully paid leave that is open to all employees regardless of gender, sexual orientation, length of service, and whether their partner is having a baby, or welcoming a new child through surrogacy or adoption. The Group has now also introduced the provision of six weeks of leave in the event of a miscarriage or stillbirth, regardless of the pregnancy term.

Last month, Vodacom Group was ranked as the Top Employer in Africa by the Top Employer Institute, which certifies organisations that are focused on putting their people first through exceptional HR policies. The company's population reach across its markets exceeds 500 million people, with operations in South Africa, Tanzania, the DRC, Mozambique, Lesotho, Egypt and partners in Safaricom Kenya and Safaricom Ethiopia. The Top Employer certification was also awarded to Vodacom Lesotho, Vodacom DRC, Vodacom Tanzania, Safaricom Kenya and Safaricom Ethiopia. Vodacom South Africa and Vodacom Mozambique were also awarded the number one spot as Top Employers in their respective countries.

"To achieve such accolades is a direct result of actively engaging with employees to gain insights that can inform employee experience, measure our progress and identify where to act as an employer. Our enhanced C.A.R.E. programme is a response to what employees are seeking from a top employer. Through implementing these initiatives and other transformative policies, we are creating a purpose-led, work environment where people can succeed in their roles," concludes Mbungela.