Expanding benefits: a) launching Pandemic Response Benefit, b) extending parental leave, and c) and making it non-gendered.
Challenge
Many of our employees are struggling with increased COVID-related childcare, healthcare, and home office challenges. Several members are also becoming first-time parents or caring for aging parents during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Actions
We provided a benefit where all full-time employees could get reimbursed by the company for up to $10,000 of eligible childcare, healthcare, and other pandemic-related expenses. We also extended parental leave from 8 to 16 weeks, regardless of gender, while including both birth and adoptive parents.
Outcomes
It is still early days for each of our three initiatives, but we already see some results. Many employees have positively reacted to our updated benefits, with several saying it has allowed them to procure more reliable childcare and achieve a more sustainable work-life balance. Similarly, several internal stakeholders have stated they appreciate a company of our size (<100 employees) is taking a proactive approach with respect to issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion and that they are excited by the steps we have already taken.
Quote
Modern Energy is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion across our group of companies, in the communities we serve, and in the clean energy industry more broadly. At Modern Energy, diversity, equity, and inclusion are not just moral imperatives; they are integral to our mission － providing affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy to everyone. CEO Action is an important resource as we work to turn words into progress.