Our workplace policies
Family-friendly policies
We are eager to support our employees when they welcome a new family member. We have detailed our policies for maternity and paternity leave below, but we also follow a similar approach for adoption leave.
Our maternity policy
Once the employee has passed their 6 month probationary period at National Voices, they will be eligible to receive the following maternity pay:
- 100% of average weekly earnings (before tax) for the first 14 weeks.
- £184.03 or 90% of average weekly earnings (whichever is lower) for the next 33 weeks.
- The total additional pot can be split over the total length of their maternity leave – for example, someone may choose to take 50% pay for 18 weeks or 25% for 36 weeks.
Our paternity policy
Once the employee has passed their 6 month probationary period, they will be eligible to receive the following paternity pay:
- 100% of average weekly earnings for 2 weeks to be taken in the first 6 months after the child is born.
- A further 1 week of fully paid leave in months 6-12 in addition to their annual leave entitlement.
We are a Disability Confident Committed employer
We are proud to be a Disability Confident Committed employer.
As such we have committed to:
- Ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible.
- Anticipating and providing reasonable adjustments during recruitment and employment, as required.
- Supporting any existing employee who is Disabled or who has a long-term health condition, enabling them to stay in work.
- We encourage our partners, suppliers and providers to demonstrate their commitment to being Disability Confident by signing up to the scheme.
Looking after our staff
We could not achieve what we do without our hardworking and dedicated staff team; and so we are equally dedicated to providing a working environment and benefits that support them.
Flexible working
We recognise the importance of having a job that fits around your life, rather than having to fit your life around your job. National Voices as an organisation works flexibly, and it is down to the individual and their line manager how employees choose to work their contracted hours.
Additionally, most of our team choose to work remotely, and have the option to work from our office in Vauxhall, London when it suits them and when it is required. As a whole staff team, we meet on a six-weekly basis for regular team days.
We are also supportive of part time working, where it is appropriate for the role and individual.
Wellbeing allowance
We provide our employees with an annual ‘wellbeing allowance’ which they can spend on items or activities that support their wellbeing. Just some examples of how the National Voices team have spent their wellbeing allowance include personal training sessions and camping equipment.
Financial healthcare cover
National Voices’ staff have access to a service called Medicash, the cost of which is covered by the organisation.
The Medicash plan helps to cover routine dental and optical bills, as well as other costs like physiotherapy and mental health counselling.
Employees can also choose to contribute to increase their level of cover.
Enhanced pension
Once an employee has worked for National Voices for 3 months, National Voices will generously match their pension contributions up to a maximum of 6.5%.
Enhanced sickness leave
We offer enhanced sickness leave where this is needed. After successful completion of probation, the entitlement rises to six weeks of full pay and six weeks half pay.
Death in service
If the worst were to happen, our death in service policy provides support to the family and loved ones of our employees.
Environmentally-focused policies
At National Voices, we are proud of our strong commitment to sustainability, and have worked with the brilliant charity Autism Allotments to become carbon neutral.
The Foundry, where our office is based, shares this same commitment.
We offer the following benefits to our staff team with sustainability in mind:
Electric car scheme
We have access to an NHS car scheme, provided by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
The scheme offers a brand new electric vehicle on a two or three year lease, on a salary sacrifice basis.
All surplus income from the scheme stays in the public purse to fund frontline NHS services.
Cycle2Work
National Voices have registered for Cycle2Work, which enables staff, on a salary sacrifice scheme, to purchase a new bike, and accessories.
This page was last updated in September 2024.