Greene King launches new maternity leave policy

Greene King has announced the launch of its new maternity leave policy which will be introduced to support women before they go on maternity leave, as well as help make the transition back into work after having a child. 

The new policy now entitles salaried team members to 26 weeks full pay and an additional 13 weeks statutory maternity pay, while hourly team members will receive 13 weeks full pay, 13 weeks half pay and 13 weeks statutory maternity pay. 

This reportedly makes it one of the most competitive policies in the industry, seeking to support those on maternity leave at a time when the cost-of-living crisis is starting to take hold for families.

Greene Sky, the company’s women employee-led inclusion group, is said to have influenced the change by conducting listening groups with team members across all parts of the business. 

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. 

In addition, 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.

The new maternity policy is the latest in a number of improvements and investments that Greene King is undertaking, as it reviews its policies to make them more family friendly, and to reflect the values the company is embracing. 

Andrew Bush, chief people and transformation officer at Greene King, said: “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.”