Elvie adds Life Leave to its list of benefits

Let’s begin with the proverbial phrase, ‘when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.’ Well, as anyone existing in the world can tell you, life ain’t dolling out lemons—well, sometimes lemons. (As a garnish for hard liquor, maybe. At least in the past couple of years.) 😅

But most of the time, it’s events both big and small, life-changing or just daily living. And while also holding down a demanding career, these situations can present a tricky balancing act. So, though some of us may be fine trapeze artists, companies like Elvie recognize that sometimes you need to just ‘do you’ without putting a label on your leave. Be it emergency care, moving house, getting married, or just taking a day for yourself— that’s what Elvie’s Life Leave policy is all about. 

During the recent review of company benefits, Elvie’s People Team added eight additional days to the already generous roster of annual, parental, and sick leave offerings. As a company well-known for mom-focussed, progressive badassery, Life Leave has a basis in our culture of trust and flexibility. 

Dubbed as the ‘last workplace taboo,’ companies like Elvie are tackling the stigma surrounding certain types of leave, such as Menopausal, Endometriosis, Fertility, Miscarriage, etc. Though we’ve always been in support of these policies, we disagree with the labels. As in, strict leave forcing people to discuss personal (and perhaps painful) events when they’re not ready to. Or will never be ready to. 

And that’s when Life Leave comes in. Because baby, why put a label on it? They’re eight extra days for when you need them most, without the intrusive questions. So, if I fancy taking a Life Leave day because my brain is in its mid-year melt and in need of a Puppy Yoga class, I can. (And I will. You can bet your ass I will.) 

Other companies focussing on employee wellbeing have found success with similar policies. Like brewing company Molson Coors, which introduced a life leave policy for its 2000+ team across the UK and Ireland; “enabling employees to take paid leave for significant personal situations, such as settling in a new pet, moving house, studying for exams, or making the final preparations for a wedding.” 

So clearly, she works. And naturally, she would. Because we already know from our successes at Elvie that employees need autonomy, respect, and trust to thrive. So, how should the saying go? ‘When life gives you whatever, make Life Leave. Unless it’s lemons, and then make gin lemonade.’ 

Well, not quite. But you get the idea. 😉