CIPR maternity guides take aim at gender pay gap
The CIPR has published a series of ten practical guides for women preparing or returning to work after maternity leave. The guides, created in conjunction with The Talent Keeper Specialists, contain guidance for employees and managers on managing maternity leave.
This important piece of policy work resulted from last year’s CIPR State of Public Relations survey. It spotlighted a £12,000 gap between the sexes across the profession.
Managing maternity and paternity leave effectively is critical to addressing this issue. It benefits organisations in retaining skills, and ensures that new parents, male and female, aren’t disadvantaged.
The lead guide Best practices for managing maternity leave for line managers has been published publicly.
It covers best practice for managing maternity leave, features a 12-point plan and reflective exercises, and recommendation for how to manage broader career progression conversations.
The other nine guides are available exclusively to CIPR members and cover issues including confidence, flexible working, handovers, Keep In Touch (KIT) days, renegotiating a role, and setting yourself up for success.
It's timely advice. Shared maternity leave and pay will become possible in the UK for new parents from 5 April 2015.
The new CIPR guides form part of a package launched in September 2014 that is intended to support CIPR members during maternity and paternity leave.
The package includes up to 12 months' payment holiday from CIPR membership and up to 12 months discretionary CPD credits.
The work has been spearheaded by CIPR board member Sarah Hall.
“As the professional body for an industry that is more than two-thirds female, we should be an exemplar to other sectors and this is just the start of the CIPR taking a more active role in gender equality, diversity and professional ethics,” said Mrs Hall.
State of the PR Profession survey
The gender pay initiatives and a diversity event taking place this week are both outcomes from the 2013/14 CIPR State of the PR Profession survey.
Now in its seventh year, the State of the Profession is the largest and longest running survey of its kind. It’s an important piece of work.
The survey takes into account the views of CIPR members and non-members, and aims to uncover the issues and challenges facing public relations professionals.
It covers a broad range of key issues including professional background, skills, recruitment and diversity.
It’s your opportunity to influence the policy, products and services that public relations professionals need to get ahead in their careers.
If you haven’t participated already I’d urge you to help us build on the progress we’ve made this year by completing the survey and sharing it with your colleagues. It’s a series of online questions that will take you around ten minutes to complete.
If you're interested in completing the survey and haven't received an invitation email, please contact CIPR policy officer Koray Camgoz.
The survey will run until December, and the CIPR expects to publish the results in February 2015.
