Alstom has announced the introduction of a new sector-leading maternity and adoption policy for staff in the UK, reinforcing its commitment to supporting gender equality and the well-being of its workforce.
The enhanced policy offers employees on maternity and adoption leave full pay for up to 12 months. This policy is also viewed as a critical part of Alstom’s commitment to supporting female retention and attracting new talent into the organisation and wider rail sector.
“This enhanced maternity policy is a significant step forward, and exemplifies how Alstom strives to ensure that women within the organisation are able to thrive both professionally and personally,” said Charlotte Briers, Rolling Stock Performance Lead and Chair of Voices of Women at Alstom.
“With the maternity improvement – alongside the recent introduction of enhanced menopause support and emergency period care – it shows that Alstom is serious about being a workplace for women,”
Alstom is also focused on mitigating the effects of the ‘pregnancy penalty’ – a recognised phenomenon where women returning from maternity leave often struggle to regain their previous career momentum. This policy serves as a pivotal step toward eliminating this issue by supporting women in achieving their full potential upon returning to work. For example, it helps ensure that women do not face financial disadvantages from taking leave of up to a year or feel pressured to return to work before they are ready.
“We recognise the importance of removing barriers to progression for women in our workforce. This enhanced maternity policy demonstrates our commitment to providing a work environment that values and supports our employees throughout all stages of their lives,” said James Gray, Human Resources Director at Alstom.
He added: “This initiative will not only help us retain top talent but also attract skilled professionals who seek a company that truly values gender equality.”
Alstom remains dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce and continues to take concrete actions to reduce the gender pay gap, support family life and ensure the career advancement of women across its global operations.
The new maternity and adoption policy is open to those who have worked at Alstom for at least two years and offers full earnings for 52 weeks’ maternity leave. It also offers enhanced payments to all employees who qualify for statutory maternity pay or adoption pay.
Image credit: Alstom
