Air India Revises Policies For New Mothers

Air India has revised its policies for female staff, giving them more choices and support after childbirth. The airline has reportedly increased the duration of maternity leave as well as offered a chance for new mothers to opt for a more manageable flying schedule until their child reaches the age of one.

Quicker turnaround flights

A report by the Press Trust of India states that Air India has changed its policies for new mothers in its workforce, giving them a longer maternity leave of 26 weeks compared to the previous duration of 12 weeks.

Among the many benefits detailed in the new communication, female pilots can request for flights with quicker turnaround times until their child reaches the age of one. This will, however, depend on the availability of such flights and schedules.

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Returning Mothers Programme

The new rules are part of the carrier’s ‘MOMS – Returning Mothers Programme.’ These have come into effect from April 1st and will also apply to new mothers who have opted for adoption or surrogacy.

The ‘MOMS’ in the programme title stands for ‘Making Our Mothers Soar,’ and under the new benefits, female employees can also get nutritional guidance and daycare facilities on a co-pay basis. The report quotes from the communication that said the company will also conduct counseling sessions to “address mental well-being, preparation for childbirth and plans to return to work for expectant mothers.”

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Changing the culture

Under the Tatas, Air India is witnessing several significant changes, from fleet restructuring to a shift in customer service policies. Introducing a new working culture and procedures is also among the changes the company is going through.

Air India has already offered two voluntary retirement schemes to some of its employees, promising monetary benefits to those who opt for them. Around 1,500 employees went ahead with the scheme the first time around, and thousands more could opt for it again.

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At the same time, the carrier has been hiring talents across all departments, from flying crew to all levels of management positions. In the last few months, several top to mid-level executives have joined the company for roles in departments like engineering, network planning, and revenue management. Many have made a shift from other airlines in India, lured by the growth prospects of an expanding Air India.

With ambitious growth plans for the next decade, Air India also wants to tweak the previous working culture and introduce new policies for its journey ahead.

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Source: PTI via The New Indian Express