Asda has announced a comprehensive overhaul of its family leave policies, doubling paternity leave and significantly expanding support for parents, carers and colleagues experiencing pregnancy loss across its 140,000-strong workforce.

The supermarket chain has extended maternity and adoption pay for hourly colleagues from 12 to 26 weeks, whilst paternity leave has been doubled from two to four weeks at full pay. Secondary kinship carers will now also be entitled to company paternity leave under the enhanced package.

In a first for the retailer, Asda is introducing 26 weeks of paid leave for primary kinship carers - those who take on long-term care for a child who is not their own. The company has also enhanced its pregnancy loss policy to provide two weeks of paid leave for colleagues who lose a pregnancy before 24 weeks.

The changes build upon Asda's launch of neonatal care leave in November 2024, which provides colleagues with up to 12 weeks of additional paid leave if their baby requires extended treatment after birth.

"We're proud to be introducing new and enhanced family-friendly policies, which underline our commitment to fostering an inclusive and colleague-focused workplace," said Helen Selby, general counsel and interim chief people officer at Asda. "We want our colleagues to feel supported during some of the most important - and occasionally most challenging - moments in their lives."

The union Usdaw has welcomed the changes, with national officer Jayne Allport stating: "Following ongoing discussions between Asda and Usdaw, we are pleased that the company has committed to providing valuable, additional support for our members when they need it most. We welcome that the company values the parents and carers working for them and understands their needs in balancing life and work."

The family leave enhancements complement an £80 million investment into pay rises for store staff, as Asda seeks to strengthen support for shop floor workers. The retailer announced the family policy updates earlier this year alongside the significant investment in hourly rates for store-based colleagues.

Under the new policies, all 140,000 colleagues will receive enhanced support, flexibility and compassion above normal statutory leave and pay. The measures are designed to provide comprehensive assistance to those navigating family life, including parenthood, caregiving and personal loss.

The neonatal care leave policy, introduced last year, allows colleagues whose babies require neonatal care treatment for seven full days or more to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave in addition to their maternity, paternity or adoption leave.

---