As one of Working Families’ 2011 top 10 employers, Southdown Housing Association knows the importance of
complying with maternity leave legislation.
The organisation, which has 700 staff, continues to pay car allowances and childcare vouchers during maternity leave. It also offers a health cash plan that pays between £50 to £200 when a baby arrives.
Janet Casserley, HR services manager, says: “Our maternity pay is in line with statutory. But we are a very flexible employer, with the majority of our staff returning to work on a different working pattern to fit in with their lives.”
Southdown starts caring for mums-to-be as soon as they announce they are expecting. “When women inform us they are pregnant, we carry out risk assessments on their work and make any necessary reasonable adjustments,”says Casserley.
“We are a member of Tommy’s pregnancy accreditation programme and give staff and managers a guide on pregnancy at work, which provides contact numbers direct to a midwife in case of any concerns."
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