MATERNITY LEAVE

“I went on maternity leave in March 2021, right in the middle of the COVID, which came with its own stresses. But the process of going on leave from my role at Goodman Masson was really smooth. Everything was focused on what worked best for me, rather than being dictated by the company's preferences. I chose to stay informed about company social events throughout my 12-month leave, and I'm glad I did. It gave me a chance to catch up with colleagues, meet new team members, and use those as part of my 10 ‘Keep in Touch’ days. My clients were well taken care of by my team, and they were handed back to me without any issues when I returned.

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In my first week back, I had meetings with L&D to get trained on a new database, D&I initiatives, and other key company updates. Overall, my experience was really positive, and I’m happy with how everything was handled.”

"I’m forever grateful for the level of support I received from GM as I approached my due date. The new parent loan helped me get all the baby gear I needed and the maternity pay offered gave me great financial security so I could really focus on and enjoy my time with my growing family.

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For me, what was more important than the financials was the ongoing support, the flexibility, the trust and the understanding experienced when I was welcomed back. I was genuinely excited to return to work and the transition has been very smooth thanks to everyone’s ongoing support"

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"I have two sons: one is 6, and the other is 3. I had both children while working at Goodman Masson. I will always be grateful for being part of such a supportive and flexible company, during my maternity leave and when I returned to work—a transition that any returning mum knows isn’t easy after a substantial time away. Those early years of having a baby is hard enough to navigate without the addition of a challenging work environment to return to.

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Working for a company where my pay changed very little while I was on maternity leave meant I didn’t have to add financial worries to all the other concerns of being a new mum. The flexibility I was given when I returned and wanted to work four days a week, so I could spend more time with my children before they started school and still seems so young, was invaluable. And even now, the understanding I receive when one of my children is sick and I can’t make it to work is irreplaceable. Thank you, GM!"

"I was nervous coming back from mat leave wondering how I was going to juggle a full-time job with a baby but my boss and team have been so supportive, they have made the transition easy. Being allowed to work fully flexibly has been life changing and means I can pick up my daughter from creche every day."

"Making the transition back to work is not easy. Flexibility can really help you juggle your new responsibilities and this is something Goodman Masson are known for, as long as your work is done this is not an issue. So many new mums leave their employer due to the pressure of work and I never felt like this, I could not be more grateful for the support I received from everyone. My manager completely understood my new situation and it helped me settle back in to work life."

"I wanted my career to continue the same trajectory and I wanted to have a family too! It is wrong that there are people who are having to choose one or the other because they aren’t supported to have both by their employer. GM’s Enhanced Maternity Leave policy meant I could have both and know that I am valued enough that I wasn’t being asked to choose."

"As the father of 6-month-old triplets Goodman Masson’s parental leave policy has been invaluable. I was able to take my paternity leave after the triplets came home from hospital which meant that I could bond with them and help more. While they were still in hospital the flexible working enabled me to come and go from the hospital as necessary and still get my work done. I have no idea how we could have survived this if I were expected to be in the office 5 days a week."

"As a father of two young children I am so grateful for the enhanced paternity leave that Goodman Masson offer. The extra time with my children is so precious in their early years. The support is ongoing with the approach to agile working allowing me freedom to cover nursery and school runs, when necessary, which is really helpful with two working parents."