SYDNEY AGENCY GIVES NEW MUMS THE WORKS

SYDNEY agency The Works has raised the bar in creative industries with its new baby daycare bonus.

As of July 1, the Employer-funded Return to Work Bonus will take effect at The Works, providing $100 per day paid childcare to mothers returning to the workplace over six months.

Average childcare costs in NSW are currently $96 per day.

The creative agency, which employs 80 staff of which 50 per cent are female, says it's focused on improving the perception of its industry.

The Works saw an opportunity to develop its own maternity leave and childcare policy, hopeful its counterparts will follow suit.

The bonus is paid provided the employee returns to the office four days per week with flexible start and finish times, and has been working at The Works for two years. It is delivered on top of a maternity leave policy that includes six full weeks paid leave, or 12 weeks half pay, with up to 52 weeks maternity leave able to be taken all up.

Kevin Macmillan (pictured middle), partner at The Works, says the agency is determined to put 'family-first' and change the 'always on mentality' prevalent in the creative industries.

"Parents need as much flexibility as possible when it comes to their kids, we wanted to ensure the parents were the decision makers, whether that is a nanny, early childcare centre or their parents we want to support that decision and respect that everyone's situation differs," says Macmillan.

"We currently have 32% of our staff working part-time after returning from maternity leave who have all supported the policy saying that childcare is one of the major hurdles in returning to work due to the costs associated."

The Works says this was a natural progression from its flexible working policy, which it has followed for the past three years.

Currently, 33 per cent of its female employees are on part-time flexible working arrangements.

Another industry-first from The Works:

• Sydney agency knows 'what's app' with social media