Putting International Women's Day 2020 theme 'Each For Equal' in action, Citi Singapore has increased the paid paternity leave to four weeks, twice the duration set in the previous policy, which provided the government-mandated two weeks.

The maternity leaves remain same 16 weeks, as mandated by government.

The bank shared that this decision is part of a review of parental leave policies across the bank's global operations. Going forward Citi Bank will be raising leave provisions - paternity, maternity or both - in 74 markets this year.

Citi Singapore's Head of Human Resources Jorge Osorio shared that the adjustments globally were decided on after the bank engaged an external vendor to assess its parental leave offerings against its peers.

"Through the increase in paid paternity leave benefits for our employees in Singapore, it enables fathers to be physically present for their new child and mother during a crucial period," said Osorio.

Last year about 142 staff took paternity leaves. Now the Bank encourages its staff to be there for their families in this important phase and tries to establish how caregiving is not just a woman's responsibility.

The bank has shared the initiative is part of building an inclusive workplace, and comes after its recent commitment to increase global representation of women in assistant vice-president to managing director level roles to at least 40 per cent by 2021 to address its unadjusted pay gap, or the gender gap in median total compensation without adjusting for factors such as job function, level and geography.

It is interesting to know that paternity leaves are also getting as much attention as maternity leaves and creating more room for inclusive policies. Some progressive organizations seem to be leading the way but soon the government will also follow and make amendments in existing policies.