Eternal, the parent company of Zomato, has rolled out a major shift in its parental leave policy, giving employees more control over how and when they take time off to care for their children.
A Break from the One-Size-Fits-All Model
Traditionally, parental leave meant a block of time right after birth or adoption, often leaving little flexibility for parents as their children grew. Eternal is changing that. Now, its 26 weeks of parental leave can be split and taken at any point over a three-year period, instead of being consumed all at once.
This means parents can choose leave that aligns with milestones — first steps, school admissions, medical needs — instead of only the newborn stage.
The change also allows up to a month of leave to be taken before a child’s birth, within six months of the due date.
Inclusive for All Forms of Parenthood
The policy is not restricted to birthing mothers. Eternal’s update covers every kind of parent: birthing, non-birthing, adoptive, and those welcoming children via surrogacy.
There’s no gender bias here. A father, adoptive mother, or same-sex partner can tap into the same leave rights. That’s a deliberate move to reflect the varied shapes of modern families.
And in a country where workplace benefits often differ based on gender or family status, this is a rare example of true parity.
Insights from Employees Helped Shape the Change
This overhaul wasn’t designed in isolation. Eternal consulted its parent community before finalizing the model, and the feedback was telling.
Three out of four working parents reported that their biggest challenges weren’t limited to the first few months after birth. Rather, they felt the squeeze of balancing career demands with childcare well into the toddler years.
More Than Just Time Off
The flexible leave policy sits within a larger framework of family-friendly benefits. Eternal’s parental support package includes:
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Day-one newborn insurance as part of group health coverage
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On-site childcare in Gurgaon and Bangalore offices, plus partnerships with daycare providers in 11 major cities
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Gender-inclusive leave for all parental types
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Fertility and family planning coverage, including egg freezing and infertility treatments
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Access to an in-house wellness team, a dedicated dietitian, and mental health support
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Up to 10 days of period leave annually
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Individualized work arrangements for parents needing extra flexibility
This combination turns the leave policy from a simple HR rule into a broader lifestyle support system for employees.
A Statement from Leadership
Niharika Mohanty, Eternal’s Vice President of HR, framed the policy as a reflection of changing workplace values. “At Eternal, we believe that supporting our employees through life’s most meaningful moments is fundamental to building a truly inclusive workplace,” she said.
Her comments point to a shift in corporate thinking: leave isn’t just an absence from work, it’s an investment in loyalty, morale, and long-term retention.
The Bigger Picture
Eternal’s move comes at a time when companies across India are under increasing pressure to modernize workplace policies. Flexible work, mental health support, and gender-neutral benefits are now critical factors in attracting talent.
For an employer in a high-demand, competitive sector like tech-enabled services, such policies can be as important as salary packages in hiring decisions.
And while global companies like Netflix and Microsoft have already embraced flexible parental leave, in India the concept is still relatively fresh. Eternal’s approach could set a new benchmark in the region.
