Greene King continues its journey to Everyday Inclusion with new maternity leave policy and support packages. Employee-led inclusion group for women, Greene Sky, plays key role in shaping new policy
Leading pub company and brewer, Greene King, has launched its new maternity leave policy. Alongside the policy, a new package of wrap around support will be introduced, designed to support women before they go on maternity leave as well as help make the transition back into work easier for mums returning after having a child.
The new policy now entitles salaried team members to 26 weeks full pay, plus 13 weeks statutory maternity pay and hourly team members to 13 weeks full pay, 13 weeks half pay, plus 13 weeks statutory maternity pay, making it one of the most competitive policies in the industry. This will help support those on maternity leave at a time when the real impact of cost-of-living crisis is starting to take hold for many families.
Greene Sky, the company’s women employee-led inclusion group, has played an integral role in influencing a change and in the design and development of the new policy. By conducting listening groups with team members across all parts of the business, the group raised concerns around the support available and the impact to careers that going on maternity leave can have for some women and to understand what women in the business need to help them continue their career aspirations at Greene King.
Along with the improvement to maternity pay, the company is also offering women wrap around support from the moment they announce their pregnancy to their return to work.
Line managers will receive guidance on how they can support team members before, during and after their maternity leave, as they are often one of the first people outside of the family that will be told when someone is expecting a baby.
Team members will also be able to flex their return to work in the first eight weeks, to help ease the transition back to working life while looking after their new family member, as well as the ability to access additional financial support.
Andrew Bush, chief people and transformation officer at Greene King, said: “Our research showed that in 2020 only 53% of women returned to work for us following maternity leave. This stark figure showed us it was clear we needed to update our policy so women feel supported to be able to confidently choose the right time to start a family and for them to feel they can return to work at the right time for them, without feeling financially pressured to return.
“We’re continuing our journey of Everyday Inclusion, where we want to demonstrate that every person’s contribution is valued, and the new maternity leave policy and support package is a huge step forward and is now one of the strongest policies in the marketplace.”
Rachel Pescod, head of strategy at Greene King, said: “Greene King’s new maternity policy will allow me to spend the important early months with my new baby and return to work at the right time for me and my family. It takes some financial stress away amidst a wider cost of living crisis and it makes me proud to work for a company that cares for its team members.”
The new maternity policy is the latest in a number of improvements and investments the pub company and brewer is undertaking in its people proposition. It is reviewing its policies to make them more family friendly, and to reflect the values the company is embracing. Additionally, in January this year it launched its Elevate training programme to 3,500 managers from across the business.
Press release from Greene King.
For further infromation, please contact Rebecca Torkington via RebeccaTorkington@greeneking.co.uk.