Doubling of maternity, adoption, and paternity leave entitlements marks a significant improvement in staff benefits.
Date: 13 December 2023
Today London Metropolitan University has announced a comprehensive enhancement to its parental leave policies, contributing to the increasing improvement in employment standards throughout the higher education sector.
The revised policies now grant 52 weeks of fully paid maternity and adoption leave to qualifying staff, a substantial increase from the previous provisions. Additionally, paternity leave has been extended to 8 weeks at full pay.
This strategic move reflects London Met's People Strategy, which aims to foster a flexible, supportive, and inclusive workplace that aligns with the university's core values and mission to transform lives through education.
Professor Lynn Dobbs, Vice-Chancellor of London Metropolitan University, commented:
"We are proud to lead the way in supporting our staff during the most important times of their lives. By doubling our leave entitlements, we are making a clear statement about what our values of ambition and inclusivity mean in practice. It's a pivotal step in our ongoing efforts to implement our People Strategy, ensuring London Met remains a fantastic place to work."
These changes not only double the previous entitlements but also place London Met at the forefront of family support among universities, exemplifying the People Strategy's commitment to nurturing an environment where staff can thrive both professionally and personally.
Reduced qualification period broadens eligibility
To further underscore its commitment to accessible family support, London Met has also reduced the qualification period for occupational maternity and adoption pay from one year to 26 weeks, aligning with statutory maternity pay qualification requirements.
This reduction aims to enhance the work-life balance for a broader range of university staff members, in direct support of the People Strategy's objectives.
Chloe Milano, Executive Director of People at London Metropolitan University added:
“It’s a real source of pride to be able to offer such a generous parental leave package. The first few months of parenthood can be tough for so many reasons, so supporting our staff while they undergo this huge life change is important for London Met.
“Policies should be reviewed and updated to reflect the evolving needs of our employees, and this offering is what we consider to be a great fit for many ambitious parents we hope to retain as valuable members of our workforce for years to come. I’m so pleased to be a part of this transition.”
More details on these enhanced policies and London Met’s suite of family-friendly and flexible working policies can be found on London Met's Policies page.
London Metropolitan University has announced a comprehensive enhancement to its parental leave policies.