7 of The Best Companies For Parents and Mums-To-Be
When you’re expecting a little one there are plenty of things to consider, not least how you’ll cope with work and the extra demands on your money. So we’ve compiled a list of the best companies for parents and mums-to-be. The last thing you’ll want to be worrying about is your maternity or paternity package and what leave you’ll be entitled to when you do come to give birth, adopt, or go through surrogacy.
Luckily, there are many employers who realise how much of a juggling act having a new baby can be, so have taken a more modern, forward-thinking approach in order to lend a hand. Here is a quick rundown of seven UK companies which offer some serious help to new parents, from extra paid leave and flexible working to a host of other benefits.
1. Aviva
As one of the UK’s biggest insurance companies, Aviva offers 26 weeks leave on full basic pay to its 16,000 employees. This is regardless of their sexual orientation or gender, or whether they have given birth, gone through a surrogacy arrangement, or chosen adoption. Both Mums and Dads can have 6 months leave on full pay.
2. Atkins
A large multinational building consultancy, Atkins offers a range of benefits including job sharing, part-time working, mobile working and working at home. A popular family-friendly benefit at Atkins is that staff can buy up to 15 days additional holiday (pro rata for part time employees). Atkins also has used Return-To-Work bonuses to help encourage working parents back into work. Check out the Atkins review from our community.
3. Vodafone
Vodafone has a fantastic maternity policy which offers new parents 16 fully paid weeks of maternity leave. After that, it’s possible to take six months of working a part-time 30-hour week over four days, but still receive full-time pay.
4. Netflix
Netflix is the ideal place to work if you’re a new mum or mum-to-be who would like to have flexible hours. Parents can decide to take off as much time as they want during the first year, whilst still being paid their full salary. They can then choose to come back full-time or part-time (or a mixture of both) during that first year after the baby’s birth or adoption, or even decide not to come back at all.
5. Accenture
Accenture is an innovative business solutions and consulting company that not only applies progressive thinking to its clients but to its staff as well. New parents, including those who are adopting, are offered 36 weeks maternity leave on full pay.
6. Deloitte
Consultancy firm Deloitte are well known for looking after all their employees which particularly extends to new parents. Expectant mums are offered 26 weeks maternity leave, 16 of which are at full pay, and 10 additional weeks at 80% pay. Dads can also take 10 days fully paid paternity leave, and shared parental leave can be up to 26 weeks, although unpaid. Further benefits include paid leave if your child is ill, flexible working arrangements, crèche payments and parenting support schemes.
7. UK Fast
UKFast is a data and hosting company based in Manchester which offers staff 16 weeks maternity leave on full pay. It also boasts an ultra-convenient onsite crèche and the sweet gesture of a hamper of treats when your little one arrives.
Do you think your company is great to work for as a parent or mum-to-be ? Let us know your view anonymously.
Wherever you work, make sure you know your rights when it comes to how much Statutory Maternity Leave you’re entitled to. Also find out more about Shared Parental Leave and Maternity Allowance