Law firm Hill Dickinson has been named as one of the UK’s top 10 employers for its family-friendly and flexible working policies.
Working Families, the UK’s national charity for working parents and carers, has awarded Hill Dickinson a place in its prestigious annual list of Top Employers for Working Families.
Now in its fifteenth year, employers of all sizes from across the public, private and third sectors compete annually to gain a coveted place on the charity’s published list. The 2024 list named four UK law firms among its top 10, as well as employers including Grant Thornton, the Crown Prosecution Service and North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT).
Employers were assessed using Working Families’ Benchmark and were scored on four key areas to build a comprehensive picture of their flexible and family-friendly policies and practices that specifically support parents and carers.
Hill Dickinson Chief People Officer Carolyn Morgan said: “We are thrilled that Working Families has recognised us once again as one of the UK’s leading employers. We have always sought to build our business around our people and took the decision very early on not only to embrace flexible working but to create a working environment where flexibility is the accepted norm.
I’m proud to be able to say that everyone at Hill Dickinson has the flexibility to arrange their working day around other commitments, whether that means working remotely on certain days, working a four-day week or leaving at three for the school run and picking up again in the evening for an hour or two.Carolyn Morgan
Hill Dickinson Chief People Officer
“I’m proud to be able to say that everyone at Hill Dickinson has the flexibility to arrange their working day around other commitments, whether that means working remotely on certain days, working a four-day week or leaving at three for the school run and picking up again in the evening for an hour or two.”
The Working Families’ Benchmark—which captured the experience of over 400,000 UK employees across the organisations that took part—highlights trends in flexible and family-friendly policies and practices. Key findings included:
85% of Benchmark employers carry out a job analysis on some or all roles to determine the options for flexible working prior to advertising
90% of Benchmark entrants provide training for managers to develop and lead flexible teams, up from 84% in 2023.
Nearly all Benchmark employers (96%) actively encourage their managers to work in a flexible and family-friendly way.
96% of Benchmark employers have strategic plans to support family-friendly working.
62% of Benchmark entrants offer paid carers’ leave, with 45% of participants offering five days of paid leave.
Jane van Zyl, CEO of Working Families, said: “It’s inspiring to see our Benchmark employers leading the way in flexible, family-friendly workplaces. With 85% starting with job design for flexible roles and 96% having strategic plans for family-friendly support, they’re making flexible work a reality. Nearly all provide line manager training and encourage managers to work flexibly, showing a strong commitment to inclusive work environments.”