Grandternity leave | Is this trend strategic arsenal in the battle for talent?

Grandternity leave, also known as grandparental leave, is gaining momentum in the realm of employee benefits and family leave policies.

Gaining popularity since the pandemic, this form or leave, similar to paternity or maternity leave, is designed to provide older employees with paid time off to support and bond with their newly born grandchildren, this trend reflecting a broader shift in the corporate world towards recognising the need to support employees in various life stages.

Its introduction highlights that employers recognise that promoting employee wellbeing creates a happier and more productive workforce, while the prominence of grandternity leave also sheds a light on the desperation of firms to attract and retain talent in a climate rife with talent shortages, low levels of retention and high levels of employment.

The global war on talent

For some firms, grandternity leave emerges as a savior in the relentless global war on talent. In the cutthroat job market, skilled professionals yearn for employers who go beyond the mundane in their offering. This is highlighted by a study from Harvard Business Review which found that 80% of employees would choose additional benefits over a pay rise.