Deloitte announces “first of its kind” extended family leave policy

In a move that will impact more than 1,300 of its employees in Connecticut, Deloitte introduced on Sept. 8 a new family leave program, granting up to 16 weeks of fully paid family leave.

Deloitte said it is the first professional services firm to implement such a policy, which also goes into effect immediately for new hires.

The policy allows all employees who regularly work at least 20 hours a week to take paid family leave in order to care for a spouse, domestic partner, parent, child or sibling. New mothers will be eligible to take up to 24 weeks away from the company, in conjunction with the firm”™s short-term disability policy.

“Leaders often discuss how they can become more innovative, and one of the things that makes a big difference is to focus beyond business products and services and think about their people and the fabric of organizational culture,” said Deloitte LLP CEO Cathy Engelbert.

Deloitte manages offices in Darien, Hartford and Stamford.