Creating a culture of mutual care

By [Plentify Team](/content/author/plentify-team/ "Posts by Plentify Team"/index.html)

Paid parental leave isn’t just a workplace benefit—it’s a vital way to support new families during one of the most significant moments of their lives. At Plentify, we believe that thriving families build thriving teams, which is why we’ve introduced a progressive parental leave policy designed to reflect our commitment to mutual care and work-life balance.

Why parental leave matters to us

At Plentify, mutual care is one of our core values. This means we are serious about looking after our employees, helping them thrive at work and in their personal lives. We recognise that parental leave can make a huge difference for families, offering parents time to bond with their child and adjust to this life-changing event without the added stress of financial instability.

“For us, this policy is about more than ticking a box—it’s about fostering an environment where people feel valued and supported.” – Tamsyn Lunt, Director of Product Growth

We also understand that parental leave isn’t just about maternity leave—it’s about supporting all parents, regardless of gender or family structure. That’s why our policy is designed with equality in mind, recognising that parenting responsibilities should be shared. Our policy also acknowledges families who don’t always birth their own children, ensuring that adoptive and surrogate parents receive the same level of support. When crafting this policy, we consulted with a psychologist who emphasised its importance, stating,

“By reducing the demands placed on parents during this critical period, it helps lower stress, allowing them to fully engage with and enjoy this special time with their baby” – Nina Zizzamia

This guidance reinforced our commitment to creating a policy that truly meets the emotional and practical needs of new parents.

Highlights of our policy

• Maternity leave: Primary caregivers are eligible for up to six months of leave: four months fully paid and two months at 50% of their salary. This extended time allows for recovery, bonding, and essential caregiving.
• Secondary caregiver leave: Partners receive two months of fully paid leave, which can be taken at any point within the first year after the child’s birth. This flexibility ensures families can plan leave to suit their unique needs.
• Adoption and surrogacy Leave: Adoptive parents and parents via surrogacy receive the same benefits as birth parents. The primary caregiver gets six months of leave, while the secondary caregiver receives two months of fully paid leave.
• Stillbirth or miscarriage leave: In the unfortunate event of a stillbirth or late-term miscarriage, we offer compassionate support: four months of paid leave for mothers and two months for their partners to allow time for mourning and healing.

Why we’re proud of this policy

We believe our policy provides meaningful support to employees when they need it most. While South African law mandates four months of unpaid parental leave with the option to claim from UIF, our policy goes far beyond these requirements by offering:

1. Extensive paid leave for primary & secondary caregivers: Promoting equality in parenting and ensuring both parents have time to bond with their child.
2. Equal leave for all primary caregivers: Whether you give birth, adopt, or have a child via surrogacy, you receive the same six months of leave.
3. Support and care for parents who have experienced stillbirth: We support parents with extensive leave to process a significant loss.

We made this choice not just to be better than the benchmark, but because we know it’s better for both our people and our business.

Building stronger families and teams

Paid parental leave is about more than just time off; it’s about creating an inclusive, family-friendly workplace that prioritises health, well-being, and balance. At Plentify, we see this as an investment in both our people and our business. We’re proud to offer a policy that helps parents bond with their children, recover, and thrive in their new roles while fostering equality and support at home and work.