By Angela Green, Content Executive, H&C News: New maternity package launched to help improve perception of careers in hospitality.
Restaurant News is Sponsored by Santa Maria Foodservice UK
Fazenda has announced its industry-leading maternity package as part of wider benefits overhaul in a bid to help tackle perceptions of hospitality as a career.
The premium-casual South American operator’s new maternity package comes after a review into employee benefits, as the industry faces recruitment and retention challenges across the board.
Under the new policy, team members who have worked for Fazenda for 5 years or more will be offered 39 weeks full maternity pay. Those team members with 12 months service will also benefit from 6 weeks of full pay, followed by 33 weeks of half pay.
In addition, Fazenda have enhanced their paternity package, offering 2 weeks full paternity pay for team members with over 2 years’ service and 2 additional weeks of parental leave at full pay for team members with over 5 years of service.
Tomás Maunier, managing director said, “Historically, we’ve never been one to shout about what we do for our team. We believe in offering such benefits because it’s the right thing to do. However, we feel maybe it’s time to not only champion our business as a great place to work, but the industry as a whole.
For years, our industry has struggled with a bad reputation as a choice of career. We want to help break down these barriers and help change the narrative. Although our maternity package is a very generous one, we’re aware that this is just a small step in the right direction.”
The group, who have recently announced their plans to open their first restaurant in London in Spring 2023, have also introduced company-wide private healthcare. Fully funded by the company and provided by Benenden Health, a not-for-profit organisation, the introduction of the team benefit aims to focus on the health and wellbeing of individuals outside of the workplace.
Commenting on the changes, Terence Langley, CEO said “Each of us has a role to play in overcoming the stigma around our industry, and our people-first approach is our contribution. We’re extremely proud to implement the new benefits, especially the enhanced maternity pay structure. It aligns with our family values as a business.
We feel passionately about the difficult choice’s individuals must make when it comes to having time off to start a family, and we’re proud to be able to support our team by alleviating financial pressure at one of the most significant times in their lives.”
Restaurant News is Sponsored by Santa Maria Foodservice UK
