Case Study: Women Returners - Clifford Chance

Over half the lawyers in Clifford Chance are female but representation at partner level does not reflect this. The age profile of women taking maternity leave at Clifford Chance (91% are 30 to 41) coincides with the time they might be considered for partnership. The firm already offers an enhanced maternity package, childcare vouchers, emergency childcare provision and formal and informal flexible working. But it recognised that the loss of female talent as a result of becoming a parent at a crucial point during a women’s career impaired the firm’s talent pipeline.

In 2006 Clifford Chance engaged ‘Talking Talent’ to explore employees’ experience of maternity at the company. Employees (including leavers) who had taken maternity leave over the previous 5 years were interviewed

In the light of the feedback from the Talking Talent survey, the following improvements have been introduced:

• The role of Maternity Specialist amongst the HR Team. This person meets all expectant mums and supports both the individual and their line manager through the process.
• A set of manager’s guidelines on maternity/family friendly policy
• A new maternity booklet downloadable from the intranet
• Maternity coaching on an individual and group basis
• An on-line Occupational Health risk assessment for pregnant women
• A series of Parenthood Seminars, eg, on ‘Understanding our Little One’s Minds’, ‘The School Maze’
• Service eligibility reduced from 24 months to 18 months service to qualify for enhanced packages
• Junior enhanced package brought under same framework and structure as Senior package
• The requirement to pay back money if leaving the company reduced from 12 months to 6 months
• Abolished the need to repay the balance of any enhanced pay if returning part time

The success of these new measures will be evaluated. A feasibility study will also be undertaken later in 2007 to ascertain the likely take up of an emergency childcare booking facility.

The firm has been accredited to the Tommy Pregnancy Programme.