Loop Customer Management, Commended 2012, Best for Mothers Award

Loop Customer Management provides billing & collection and customer services for Yorkshire Water. They employ 578 people, 70 per cent of whom are women. Because they have a large number of female workers, it is vital that they are able to get maternity policies right to both ensure that they manage the maternity process well, and support their mothers and mothers-to-be.

Enhanced maternity pay is offered as an option, and most women take this offer up. When the baby is born the MD and senior team send a card to the new parents congratulating them – a gesture which affirms the value in which the organisation holds the employee. Upon return, flexible working requests are granted where possible, and all employees have access to an Employee Assistance Programme to provide support and advice on maternity and parenting issues.

Loop take the view that ‘being a mother’ is a continuing responsibility and strive to make sure that the policies offered to new parents are available for parents of older children too. Term-time working is available, as well as flexibility day-to-day to meet other family needs. Employees are also able to take up to 12 months off unpaid to spend more time with their families through Life Opportunity leave.