Virgin Management is to offer staff a full year’s pay when taking paternity, maternity or adoption leave, providing they have been with the organisation for four or more years.
Virgin Management workers who have less than two years’ service with the organisation will receive a quarter (25%) of their salary.
“Richard Branson’s [founder of Virgin Group] announcement will certainly grab the headlines and steal a march on Virgin’s competitors.
“As a 32-year-old male looking to start a family in the not-too-distant future, I’d be very happy with a year off on full pay, but I know it would be unrealistic to expect this to become a trend. 99.9% of employers in the UK will be unable to follow suit due to the obvious financial and HR costs.
“However, this news should encourage employers to explore other ways to support their staff following the birth of a child, within the organisation’s means.
”This could be by providing a [more] flexible work environment with a scheme such as bring your own device or introducing a formal sabbatical scheme, allowing a longer period out of the workplace but spreading the financial impact over 12 months.”
Andrew Drake, head of flexible benefits, JLT Employee Benefits
