The company offers a wide range of paid and unpaid leave to employees who are becoming parents, caring for a new child, or balancing longer-term caring responsibilities. This summary sets out the main entitlements; the full policy is available on the staff portal.

**Maternity leave.** Employees giving birth are entitled to a total of 52 weeks of maternity leave, divided into 26 weeks of ordinary maternity leave and a further 26 weeks of additional maternity leave. Contractual pay continues at full rate for the first six weeks, and at a reduced rate (currently 60 per cent of salary) for the following 33 weeks. The final 13 weeks, if taken, are unpaid. Employees must give at least fifteen weeks' notice of their intended start date.

**Paternity and partner leave.** Fathers and the non-birthing partners of new parents are entitled to two weeks of paid leave at full rate, which can be taken at any point during the first eight weeks after the birth or placement. From 2027, this entitlement will be extended to four weeks.

**Adoption leave.** Employees adopting a child are entitled to 52 weeks of adoption leave on the same pattern as maternity leave. Evidence of the adoption arrangement must be provided to Human Resources at least four weeks before leave begins.

**Shared parental leave.** After the birth or placement of a child, parents may agree to divide the available leave between them in blocks of at least one week. The total number of weeks available is 50 (the first two weeks after the birth are reserved for the mother or the primary adopter). All shared parental leave must be taken within the first year.

**Returning to work.** Employees returning from a period of twenty-six weeks or less of leave are entitled to return to the same role. Those returning from a longer period are entitled to return to a role that is at a similar level and on similar terms, though the specific duties may differ.

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