[UK] Virgin among the first companies to offer paid carer and neonatal leave

With a roll-out of new enhanced employee wellbeing initiatives, Virgin Media O2 has become one of the first UK companies to offer both paid neonatal and paid carer's leave to workers, HR Magazine reports.

Employees are now entitled to up to 12 weeks of neonatal leave, in addition to five days of paid carer's leave which can be taken as 10 half days.

The new parental leave policies include 14 weeks of paid paternity leave, rather than the two-week statutory paternity leave offered by the government.

Virgin is also offering 26 weeks of paid maternity or adoption leave, as well as up to 10 days of paid leave for pregnancy loss.

Helen Walker - chief executive of Carers UK - said, “We estimate as many as one in seven of the UK workforce has an unpaid caring responsibility for a relative or friend who is older, disabled or seriously ill. Juggling the two can be a challenging balancing act. Carer’s leave gives working carers the flexibility they need to support their loved one; at routine hospital appointments, for example, or to recover from a planned operation.

“Virgin Media O2 is taking one step further by ensuring that the leave is paid, showing that they really value the work of carers in their organisation. We hope other employers will recognise the benefits of carer’s leave and follow suit.”

The new policies reportedly had significant input from Virgin Media O2 employees through its employee resource groups (ERGs) for underrepresented parts of the workforce, including LGBT+ employees, disabled, neurodiverse and ethnic minority workers.

Nisha Marwaha - Virgin Media O2's director of people relations and DEI - emphasised the influence of the company's employee resource groups in making these decisions.

Speaking to HR magazine, Ms Marwaha said, "The policies that we've just launched have come out of consultation with employee resource groups to understand what's important to our people, and what's going to make a difference. We started on the basis of trying to break barriers in order to create an inclusive culture.

"We've listened to our employees who've said it would make a huge difference for both parents to be present at the time when you can bond with your child, at a time when it's life-changing and you're learning how to balance your new responsibilities."

Virgin has also reportedly offered employees cost of living support which will continue into 2023.

Workers earning under £35,000 will be given a £1,400 support allowance, with £400 to be paid this November and in January 2023, followed by six monthly payments of £100 until July 2023. 

Source: HR Magazine

(Quotes via original reporting)

With a roll-out of new enhanced employee wellbeing initiatives, Virgin Media O2 has become one of the first UK companies to offer both paid neonatal and paid carer's leave to workers, HR Magazine reports.

Employees are now entitled to up to 12 weeks of neonatal leave, in addition to five days of paid carer's leave which can be taken as 10 half days.

The new parental leave policies include 14 weeks of paid paternity leave, rather than the two-week statutory paternity leave offered by the government.

Virgin is also offering 26 weeks of paid maternity or adoption leave, as well as up to 10 days of paid leave for pregnancy loss.

Helen Walker - chief executive of Carers UK - said, “We estimate as many as one in seven of the UK workforce has an unpaid caring responsibility for a relative or friend who is older, disabled or seriously ill. Juggling the two can be a challenging balancing act. Carer’s leave gives working carers the flexibility they need to support their loved one; at routine hospital appointments, for example, or to recover from a planned operation.

“Virgin Media O2 is taking one step further by ensuring that the leave is paid, showing that they really value the work of carers in their organisation. We hope other employers will recognise the benefits of carer’s leave and follow suit.”

The new policies reportedly had significant input from Virgin Media O2 employees through its employee resource groups (ERGs) for underrepresented parts of the workforce, including LGBT+ employees, disabled, neurodiverse and ethnic minority workers.

Nisha Marwaha - Virgin Media O2's director of people relations and DEI - emphasised the influence of the company's employee resource groups in making these decisions.

Speaking to HR magazine, Ms Marwaha said, "The policies that we've just launched have come out of consultation with employee resource groups to understand what's important to our people, and what's going to make a difference. We started on the basis of trying to break barriers in order to create an inclusive culture.

"We've listened to our employees who've said it would make a huge difference for both parents to be present at the time when you can bond with your child, at a time when it's life-changing and you're learning how to balance your new responsibilities."

Virgin has also reportedly offered employees cost of living support which will continue into 2023.

Workers earning under £35,000 will be given a £1,400 support allowance, with £400 to be paid this November and in January 2023, followed by six monthly payments of £100 until July 2023. 

Source: HR Magazine

(Quotes via original reporting)