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The Guardian (UK): Manufacturing/energy

Monday July 30, 2007

In a sector this large and diverse, we expected a patchy response rate and companies performing badly. Those assumptions were wrong. This sector was among the best for working parents, an apparent reflection of these major employers’ need to hold on to skilled and motivated staff. Most of the firms we invited to contribute did so. We did have two reservations, however: Royal Dutch Shell has a very hefty clawback on his enhanced maternity pay, even though recipients have waited two years to qualify. And BP just scrapes in to the “above average” camp: its working mothers wait three years before qualifying for reasonably – though not greatly – enhanced maternity pay. And paternity pay is meagre.

Best in sector
Jaguar/Land Rover UK
What it is: Car manufacturers, currently part of Ford, where similar terms apply.
Employs: 19,000 (10% women, 90% men).
Maternity: For those with 26 weeks’ service, 52 weeks’ full pay. Jaguar/Land Rover also pays for pregnant employees to be enrolled in the National Childbirth Trust. There are private facilities for female employees to express and store breast milk .
Paternity: Regardless of service, two weeks’ full pay.

BG Group
What it is: Natural gas company.
Employs: 1,635 (23% women, 77% men).
Maternity: For those with 26 weeks’ service, the first six months’ leave is at full pay.
Paternity: After 26 weeks’ service, one week’s full pay, one week’s SPP.
Other benefits: Provision for childcare vouchers and flexible working . Enhanced parental leave available for all employees with young children.

British American Tobacco
What it is: Tobacco manufacturing company.
Employs: 1,594 (40% women, 60% men).
Maternity: For those with a year’s service, 26 weeks’ full salary, then 13 weeks’ SMP. Full annual bonus is paid (not pro rata).
Paternity: Regardless of service, two weeks’ full pay
Other benefits: Provision for childcare vouchers and flexible working.

Above average

Volkswagen Group UK Ltd
What it is: Vehicle importer and sales and marketing organisation.
Employs: 570 ( 35% women, 65% men).
Maternity: Regardless of service, 18 weeks’ leave at full pay, then 22 weeks at half pay. Optional further 12 weeks unpaid.
Paternity: Regardless of service, one week’s full pay, second on SPP.

AstraZeneca
What it is: Pharmaceutical company.
Employs: 12,000 (50% women, 50% men).
Maternity: For those with 26 weeks’ service, 18 weeks’ fully paid leave, then 21 weeks’ SMP, then 13 weeks unpaid leave. For those with less than 26 weeks’ service, standard statutory provision is given, together with retail and childcare vouchers.
Paternity: After 26 weeks’ service, two weeks’ full pay .
Other benefits: Core and bank holidays accrue, as well as holiday entitlement . Childcare and retail vouchers are also offered.

Rio Tinto
What it is: Mining group.
Employs: 609 (39% women, 61% men).
Maternity: For those with 26 weeks’ service, 13 weeks’ full normal pay, 13 weeks at 50% of pay, then 13 weeks’ SMP.
Paternity: Two weeks’ full pay.
Other benefits: Twelve months’ free childcare vouchers (currently £238/month) for those returning from maternity leave.

Procter & Gamble
What it is: Manufacturer of items including household cleaners and personal products.
Employs: 7,000 (45% women, 55% men).
Maternity: For those with more than a year’s service, 26 weeks’ full pay, then SMP.
Paternity: After 26 weeks’ service, two weeks’ full pay .

GlaxoSmithKline
What it is: Pharmaceutical company.
Employs: 19,016 (41% women, 59% men).
Maternity: For those with more than 58 weeks’ service, there are two options – whichever is the greater: 26 weeks’ full salary (inclusive of higher-rate SMP, which is 90% of pay for the first six weeks of leave, the legal minimum); or six weeks’ higher-rate SMP, 20 weeks’ full salary (inclusive of SMP at the ordinary flat rate of £112.75), then 13 weeks’ SMP and 13 weeks’ unpaid.
Paternity: Two weeks’ full salary. May be taken as occasional days.

Diageo
What it is: Drinks business (brands include Smirnoff , Guinness, Baileys and Johnnie Walker).
Employs: 6,760 (22% women, 78% men).
Maternity: Those with more than a year’s service can choose between two options: 16 weeks’ full pay followed by 10 weeks’ half pay; or 13 weeks’ full pay, followed by 13 weeks’ half pay, followed by 13 weeks’ SMP and 13 weeks’ unpaid leave.
Paternity: One week’s fully paid leave followed by one week’s SPP.

Royal Dutch Shell
What it is: Oil, gas and petrochemicals group.
Employs: 8,300 (gender breakdown unknown by company.)
Maternity: For those with two years’ service, six months’ full pay, though the fourth, fifth and sixth months must be repaid if the employee choses not to return to work or returns and does not complete six months’ service (except because of redundancy, death or ill health).
Paternity: After 26 weeks’ service, two weeks’ full pay.

Bombardier Aerospace-Belfast
What it is: Aerospace design and manufacturing company.
Employs: 5,000 (7% women, 93% men).
Maternity: After 26 weeks’ service, 14 weeks’ full (basic) pay, four weeks’ pay at half basic rate, then SMP.
Paternity: Statutory leave and pay, plus one day’s full pay.
Other benefits: Provision for reduced or flexible hours, job sharing. Childcare voucher scheme.

Airbus UK
What it is: Aircraft designer and manufacturer .
Employs: 10,300 (8% women, 92% men).
Maternity: After 41 weeks’ service, 18 weeks’ full pay, then SMP. Phased return available of up to 13 weeks on reduced hours to assist in reacclimatising to work.
Paternity: After 41 weeks’ service by expected week of childbirth, statutory pay.
Other benefits: Provision for flexible working, childcare vouchers, holiday clubs.

BP
What it is: Oil and gas company.
Employs: 16,500 (gender breakdown unknown by company.)
Maternity: Range of pay options depending on length of service. For those with less than 26 weeks’ service, BP tops up first six weeks’ SMP rate to full pay, and tops up the next 20 weeks to half pay. For those with 26 weeks’ to three years’ service: six weeks’ full pay, 20 weeks at half pay and 13 weeks’ SMP. For those with three years’ service, four months’ full pay, then two months’ half pay. For those with five years’ service, six months’ full pay.
Paternity: After 26 weeks’ service, one week’s full pay, one week’s SPP.
Other benefits: Special arrangements for those working shifts or offshore.

Poor in sector
Centrica (supplies energy and services through British Gas, Dyno and Centrica brands), Honda UK.

Out of the running
Bacardi-Martini, BHP Billiton mining, Cadbury Schweppes, Scottish & Newcastle (brands include Kronenbourg 1664, Foster’s, Newcastle Brown Ale), Moy Park (food processing), Nestle UK, Norbrook Laboratories (pharmaceuticals), Rolls-Royce.

http://money.guardian.co.uk/workingparents/maternity/story/0,,2137583,00.html

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