Baby classes help retain female talent at Microsoft UK

October 16, 2009 by Shawn Douglas
Filed under: News

Baby classes, an on-site nursery and flexible maternity leave are some of the many offerings Microsoft UK has to retain top female talent.

The typical morning for a working mother with a newborn might involve rushing across town to drop off her baby at a care center, and perhaps with only a limited amount of flexibility in her schedule. She might feel stressed because she had to return to work much sooner than she was prepared to do. The mother may love her career, but also has a new life with a baby in the family.

Microsoft is among many companies that have realized that providing a bit of flexibility to new moms in the company may pay huge dividends. For the last two years, the technology company has supported a “Bump Club” for new mothers to help provide balance to both their professional life and family life.

“Having a baby is an exciting time but also brings practical concerns such as returning to work, maintaining your career and having the advice and support you need,” says Claire Smith on the Microsoft website.

“As soon as I found out I was expecting a baby, I felt I had the full support of Microsoft. Straight away, I was sent for a free health assessment at the Wellbeing Centre and was introduced to the company’s Bump Club for other pregnant women. It really gave me the confidence that the company cared and supported my plans.”

Both Microsoft campuses have the clubs which offer a wide variety of classes and include an on-site independent nursery run by Bright Horizons to take stress off of new mothers and fathers alike.

“It’s enabling people with families and working mums to continue their careers at Microsoft and balance their home life,” said Phill Mather, U.K. human resources business partner manager at Microsoft, to People Management.

“The ultimate pay off for the organization is that we get to attract and retain the very best talent that’s out there.”