| KPMG boosts package for working parents |
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| | elderly dependents (the
so-called "Sandwich
Generation") will rise
by 50% by 2020. The
number of carers will
undoubtedly alter the
working pattern of both
women and men in the
years to come.
Therefore, businesses
are going to have to
look very carefully at
their family support to
see whether their
packages mirror these
changing trends.
KPMG – recently named
the UK's best big
company to work for in
The Sunday Times Best
Companies awards –
has launched a new
package which includes:
● Cover for up to a
maximum of 20 days'
emergency childcare
costs where these are
incurred through the
demands of the job;
● Maximum allowance
of 18 weeks’ full
maternity pay extended
to a greater number of
staff (those with 4
years' service or more);
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● One stop shop
family website providing
information and details
on the full support
available;
● A mentoring site to
bring together parents
and new mothers;
● Comfort rooms for
pregnant women;
● First aid classes
available for parents
with very young
children;
● Coaching and
training workshops on
legislation, parenthood
and work-life balance
issues;
● Pre-leave and
return-to-work forums;
Juggling time is
clearly a necessity for
many women and men. Over
a third of women at KPMG
returning from maternity
leave opt to work part
time while the number of
fathers working flexibly
has trebled in recent
years, according to the
Institute for Public
Policy Research. A | |
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| | significant percentage
(90%) of women return
from maternity leave on
KPMG's current maternity
package, and 92% of
those women having a
second baby do so too.
KPMG wants to ensure
that these figures stay
at the same high levels,
or increase further.
The need to work part
time is made all the
harder by the rising
costs of childcare –
which have increased by
around a quarter in the
last five years. The
cost of nursery care for
a child under two is
typically up to £200 per
week – though in some
high demand areas of
London, costs can be as
much as £400. These
costs can represent a
very significant
proportion of earnings.
Rachel Campbell, head
of people at KPMG, said:
"The demands of modern
society on women and
carers of both sexes are
only getting higher.
That is why we are
increasing our package
of support. Maternity is
of course a very special
time, but it can create | |
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| | difficulties for both
women and men with
careers. It can create
financial strains. Add
to that the growing need
to look after elderly
dependents due to
increasing life
expectancies, and there
is a danger of being
squeezed at both ends.
By providing increased
support, we hope to make
the task a little easier
for our people."
KPMG has attained
accreditation from
Tommy's, the baby
charity. It recognises
KPMG's workplace as a
pregnancy-friendly
environment to work in.
Pregnant women will be
able to access their
secure websites and
midwife service.
Sarah Bond, head of
diversity at KPMG, said:
"Retaining talented
women is extremely
important to KPMG. Our
returner rates from
maternity leave are high
– but with signs that
pressures will only grow
in the future, we
recognise the need to
keep on evolving our
package of support."
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| | Professional services
firm KPMG has launched a
new enhanced maternity
and parenting package,
as it predicts that it
will become more
difficult for carers of
children to balance work
and home demands in the
future. KPMG's package,
My Family Matters, will
provide extended
tangible support for
expectant, new mothers
and all those with
parenting responsibility
through four key areas
which will be linked to
childcare, coaching and
mentoring, communication
and information, and
policy.
KPMG's move comes as
the demands on those
caring for children look
set to rise. Research
conducted by the Future
Foundation predicted
that the number of
working women in their
40s and 50s looking
after both young and | |
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