For years, our female colleagues have enjoyed a day off for Women’s Day. But this year, 8 March fell on a Saturday. Instead of skipping this tradition, we decided to do what we thought was most logical – allow every female colleague to choose any day off of her choice.
“For us, Women’s Day is not just a date on the calendar, but an opportunity to show our female colleagues just how much we appreciate them and their contributions. That is why, regardless of the fact that this day falls on a Saturday this year, we have decided to let them have off the day of their choice, because a true life-work balance shouldn’t depend on how the calendar falls,” stated Maja Markulin Klarić, director of the Department of Digital Innovations and Market Development in Combis.
To celebrate Women’s Day, we also organised the Combis Ladies Brunch, and every female employee also received a gift package.
“Supporting women should not only be a symbolic or short-term initiative. At Combis, we strive to create an environment in which flexibility, balance, and support are the rule and not the exception. Our #GetInvolved initiative is not just for Women’s Day – it is part of a broader vision for a better working environment for all of our employees”, added Maja Markulin Klarić.
Supporting women and parents year round
At Combis, we believe that true support should not last just one day a year, and that is why we are continually introducing new measures to help our colleagues – both male and female – to achieve the right balance between their work and private lives.
In addition to 35 days of vacation leave, we also enable a flexible return to work after parental leave. For the first month back, parents have a shortened workday of just 6 hours, at full pay.
We are also aware of just how important financial security is during the first year of parenthood, so we further support parents who take advantage of the second six-month block of parental leave. Since March of this year, the state has enabled increasing the benefit paid out for this period, and we at Combis pay out an additional EUR 160 gross each month, to provide additional financial stability.
Parents of first-graders no longer need to choose between going to work and being with their child on their very first day of school. That is a day off for them. Also, parents expecting a new family member receive a benefit for newborns or adopted children in the amount of EUR 1400.
At Combis, we don’t want Women’s Day to just be an opportunity for gift-giving. For us, it is a reminder of the importance of real change, and a stimulus to continue building it day by day.
