UK law firm TLT has announced that it has enhanced its family leave policy as part of its progressive and inclusive working approach.
The initiative, which takes immediate effect, will see an increase in maternity, adoption and shared parental leave entitlement available to its 1,200 members of staff of up to 16 weeks of paid leave and 16 weeks of half pay. It has also doubled its paternity allowance to four weeks of paid leave.
A total of four weeks of paid parental bereavement leave will also be available, as well as offering parents or carers of disabled children paid leave to attend hospital appointments.
In addition, the introduction of what the firm calls a ramp down, ramp up approach will allow those transitioning to and from family leave the opportunity to reduce their hours to 80% in the four weeks preceding leave, and eight weeks returning from maternity, adoption and shared parental leave. It has also removed the qualifying criteria of one year’s service for all of these enhancements.
Helen Hodgkinson, chief people officer at TLT, commented that by providing family-friendly benefits that are directly linked to feedback from staff, the firm is removing barriers and providing support which will allow it to retain and recruit the best people.
“Our ramp down, ramp up approach in particular is rooted in specific organisational barriers and we hope that this, along with our increased paternity leave, will allow even greater flex in who can be a full-time care-giver to a child and go some way to improving gender equality at home and in the workplace,” she said.
John Wood, managing partner at TLT, added that the firm understands the long-term advantages of providing a flexible and inclusive workplace, and the importance of having policies in place that boost equality.
“To this end, we have kicked off a two-year multi-million pound investment programme to deliver a digital and physical workplace that supports choice, inclusion and sustainability which will empower our people to be at their best, ensuring that we can continue to build on our momentum and deliver for clients,” he said.