Scotiabank is expanding its maternity and parental leave top-up pay for Canadian employees and providing access to a virtual health-care program.

Eligible employees will receive six weeks of parental leave top-up pay at 100 per cent of salary, which supplements employment insurance maternity and parental benefits. As such, birth mothers will receive 12 weeks of top-up pay, up from the current six weeks.

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“We’re proud to promote an inclusive culture with the enhancements made to our maternity and parental leave policy that includes all parents, whether you are a birth or non-birth mother, father, same-sex parent or adoptive parent,” said Barb Mason, Scotiabank’s group head and chief human resources officer, in a press release. “Scotiabank is committed to increase support for new parents and growing families within the organization.”

In addition, the bank’s new virtual health-care program, which is available April 1, will provide employees with real-time access to clinicians who can diagnose and offer advice on physical and mental-health concerns, new and existing prescriptions, lab and imaging orders and specialist referrals.

Scotiabank noted the service will be particularly useful to employees who live in rural areas.

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