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Mitie sets a new standard for maternity pay
- Mitie extends full pay period to 10 weeks for new mothers
- Extra two weeks’ salary paid as a bonus for returning mothers
- Offer designed to encourage mothers back into the workplace
Mitie has enhanced its maternity benefits to offer more support for new mothers and those returning to work following maternity leave. The professional services and facilities management company will now offer salaried employees on maternity leave 10 weeks on full pay, followed by 29 weeks on Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP). This is an increase from the standard SMP rate of 6 weeks at 90 per cent of average weekly earnings.
The UK’s leading outsourcer has listened to feedback from colleagues who highlighted that after having a baby, they felt under pressure to return to work for financial reasons. As a result, Mitie has also introduced an innovative ‘return to work bonus’ of two weeks’ salary to encourage new mothers to come back to the company. This is designed to help mothers’ transition back into their role and provide additional financial support at this often challenging time.
The new policy will be backdated to October 1, 2018, to ensure that new mothers currently in the early months of maternity leave will also benefit from the changes.
The FM sector does not generally offer particularly attractive maternity packages, with many firms sticking just to the SMP requirements. This is the first of a number of initiatives Mitie has announced as it repositions itself as a diverse and inclusive employer.
Jo Davis, Group HR Director, Mitie, said:
“This is a great step forward for Mitie and the first of a number of new initiatives designed to engage, reward, recognise and retain our people. Our people told us they’d like to see a more generous maternity policy and we have listened. Not only have we increased the period of full pay, but we have also brought something innovative to our sector by offering a two-week ‘baby bonus’ for returning mums.
As an industry, FM hasn’t traditionally offered attractive maternity packages with many providers simply offering statutory maternity pay. We think it is only right that we look after our new mothers on maternity leave, during what can be an already challenging time; whilst also creating a culture which is inclusive and supportive for women.”
The enhanced package also applies to new parents on adoption leave with a review of paternity benefits expected later this year.
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