Microsoft on Thursday informed employees in Viet Nam it is enhancing its family leave benefits to ensure they have time to care for the people who matter most in their lives.

Specifically, Microsoft increased maternity leave for birth mothers to 20 weeks paid at 100 per cent and paternity/parental leave to six weeks paid at 100 per cent for all new parents. This would ensure both mothers and fathers had time to bond with the baby, whether through birth and adoption.

Additionally, the company introduced a new time away benefit -- four weeks of paid leave at 100 per cent to take care of an immediate family member with a serious health condition.

Microsoft said it was committed to driving a culture of diversity and inclusivity across the company -- providing leave benefits to both mothers and fathers was one way to support that culture.

“Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more. Our employees bring their best every day to support achieving this mission, so in turn, we aim to bring our best to them by continually assessing, refining and enhancing the world-class benefits we offer,” Vu Minh Tri, general director, Microsoft Viet Nam, said. — VNS