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Family Friendly

Doing the right thing for our colleagues

We don’t want to try and predict or assume that everyone’s needs are the same - every family is different. We want to create the right culture where our colleagues can make choices that are right for them whilst still feeling valued and equal.

Our people policies help shape who we are as a business, creating the right culture where our colleagues can make choices that are right for them whilst still feeling valued and equal.

A collage featuring several photographs of people in family and leisure based environments

We believe in doing the right thing for our colleagues

We have recently made some significant changes to our existing family friendly policies, and we have also introduced sabbatical leave, pregnancy and baby loss support and fertility at work support.

We want our policies to put the focus back on people and to address the changing needs in society and the benefits this can bring to all.

Parent leave

Our parent leave policy covers maternity, adoption, and paternity (partner) leave.

So, if you’re welcoming a new child into your family - whether this is through birth, adoption, or surrogacy - our policy will support you.

We want everyone to benefit from our enhanced benefits, so our parent leave policy applies from day one of employment – this means no matter how long you have worked for us you’ll be able to take paid leave.

    • If you’re taking maternity or adoption leave, you’ll receive full pay during the first 26 weeks of leave, followed by a further 26 weeks paid at the statutory rate.
    • If you’re taking paternity (partner) leave you can take up to 26 weeks leave. You’ll receive full pay during the first four weeks followed by 22 weeks paid at the equivalent statutory rate.

    In addition, our Parent Leave Policy gives new parents the opportunity to phase down before and after their parent leave where at least six months leave is being taken as well as providing extra paid leave to any colleague whose baby is born prematurely or needs neonatal care following birth.

Shared parental leave

Shared Parental Leave (SPL) enables eligible parents to choose how to share the care of their child during the first year of birth or adoption.

At a glance: shared parental leave

  • Up to 50 weeks of paid leave
  • Full pay for the first 24 weeks following birth or placement
  • Statutory rate for the next 26 weeks

  • If you're eligible and decide to take shared parental leave our policy provides up to 50 weeks of paid leave. The first 24 weeks following birth or placement is paid at full pay followed by 26 weeks at the statutory rate.

    Shared Parental Leave can be a complex scheme and the amount of leave and pay you’re entitled to take is dependent on a number of things, including at what point you take your leave and what you may have already received during your parent leave.

Sabbatical leave

We want our colleagues to remain motivated and engaged and in doing so we recognise the importance of work-life balance and personal development.

What do we provide?

Our sabbatical policy gives eligible colleagues the opportunity to take between two and 12 months away from work.

During this time, you’re still employed by us but your time away will be unpaid. You can use your time off to do something out of reach of your normal holiday allowance or to meet other personal needs where our other policies may only provide limited time off.

At a glance: sabbatical leave

  • The opportunity to take between two and 12 months away from work

Fertility at work support

We know that families come in different shapes and sizes regardless of diversity of gender, relationship status or sexual orientation. We also know that building a family isn’t always an easy journey and there are many different reasons why someone may be having fertility treatment.

What do we provide?

We offer support to those undergoing fertility treatment. As a guide we’ll provide paid leave for up to five appointments per cycle for up to three cycles. We recognise this journey can be a roller-coaster of emotions and the impact this can have on colleagues, so we’ll make sure that we provide individual support to those who need it.​

At a glance: fertility at work support

  • Paid leave for up to five appointments of fertility treatment per cycle, for up to three cycles

Pregnancy and baby loss support

A loss during pregnancy, during birth or after birth can be an incredibly painful time and we want to make sure that anyone affected by this does not feel alone and gets the support they need.

What do we provide?

Colleagues can take up to two weeks paid leave - this includes if you are the partner or the intended parent in a surrogacy arrangement. We know that everyone is different, so our policy enables colleagues to take this leave at a time that suits them.

We want to make sure that our colleagues receive the support they need during and after this time. Our pregnancy and baby loss support guide has been developed to bring awareness to this sensitive subject and to ensure that colleagues get the support they need, when they need it.

At a glance: pregnancy and baby loss support

  • Up to two weeks paid leave - this includes if you are the partner or the intended parent in a surrogacy arrangement

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