Sony Music UK has introduced a policy that allows some of its parent employees to receive a financial contribution towards childcare costs for pre-school age children.
The scheme provides lower and middle earners with up to a maximum of £15,000 funding per year towards the cost of childcare during working hours. It has been structured to offer tapered grants correlating to an individual employee’s salary.
According to the business, which employs 500 workers, this demonstrates its continued commitment to providing the best support for parents and underlines its commitment to diversity and inclusion. It also follows additional measures that have been introduced that are focused on improving diversity, retaining talent and addressing issues that disproportionately affect women.
Liz Jeffery, vice president of people experience at Sony Music UK and Ireland, said: “The high cost of childcare in the UK often forces parents, and particularly mothers, into part-time work or out of the workforce entirely as it becomes financially unviable. We are committed to looking at what we can do to help address issues that can be a barrier for women progressing, and we hope this policy could be the difference between someone returning to work rather than leaving a role.”
Jason Iley, chairman and chief executive officer at Sony Music UK and Ireland, added: “We have a longstanding commitment to ensure our business reflects all corners of society. This is one of several measures that we have introduced to support parents and increase the proportion of women in roles throughout the company. Our hope is that the tapered model ensures that financial support is going to those employees who need it the most.”
The business has recently introduced equal parental leave, where fathers can take 52 weeks of leave as well as mothers for the birth or adoption of a child, core hours, flexible working, a menopause policy and a domestic abuse policy, which was implemented in partnership with Women’s Aid.