Penguin Group is a publishing company with approximately 1,020 employees, all of whom are based in London. The workforce is 75 per cent female, and at senior levels 55 per cent of directors and 70 per cent of senior managers are female.

Rationale

The company values creativity, and believes a supportive and fair environment is conducive to this. Retaining talented people is also essential, and Penguin has achieved a 98 to 99 per cent return rate from maternity leave in the last few years. Penguin supports new parents in many ways, including through the Mentoring Mums programme.

The approach

Mentoring Mums was set up two years ago and is part of a range of initiatives to support parents and enable them to achieve fulfilling careers. Other initiatives include enhanced maternity pay and flexible working.

Run by HR, Mentoring Mums pairs women returning from maternity leave with another working mother in the company. They go for a coffee, and meet on an ongoing basis as regularly as desired. Mentors give emotional and practical support, provide coaching where appropriate and cover issues faced by new mothers, such as juggling work and parenthood.

Penguin recognises that men can also face issues on juggling work with family life, and is keen to give men the same level of support following paternity leave. Provision for new fathers also includes 20 days paid paternity leave, and a further 15 days for emergency childcare or compassionate leave.

The company supports all parents through the Employee Assistance Programme which offers 24-hour confidential advice on all aspects of life. There is also an in-house nurse and counsellor.

Impact

In 2007, Penguin was recognised by the Guardian as being one of the best places for parents in the media to work. Previously Penguin has also won the NSPCC’s Family Friendly Award and Pathway’s Media Employer of the Year Award.

Penguin is proud of its maternity return rate, and new mums say they have benefited from the mentoring programme and the company’s positive approach to parenthood.

"It’s great to talk to someone who has been there before you, with whom you can discuss the issues faced with coming back to work, such as juggling work and childcare responsibilities. You can feel guilty leaving your child behind, especially if they are not feeling 100 per cent that day. Having a mentor makes you feel like it’s not so bad coming back to work!"
Lucinda Smith, List Manager

"My boss has been extremely supportive. To feel that you are able to walk out of work for childcare reasons is very powerful and makes you very loyal to the organisation. None of my friends have the same supportive employer that I do."
Alison Davies, Production Director