Employee benefits

There are many benefits to working at Barnardo's, from offering rewarding roles which make vital differences to the lives of children, young people and their families to additional pay, leave and special discounts.

Salary and pension benefits

  • Salary is paid in arrears in 12 equal instalments on the 23rd of each month. Salaries are normally reviewed annually
  • Barnardo's Pension Scheme offers a 4% or 6% matched contribution to our Group Personal Pension. For those that pay into the pension they will be provided with death in service cover of 4 times annual earnings
  • We offer enhanced maternity pay for eligible colleagues at 50% of weekly pay for 12 weeks, plus 39 weeks’ Statutory Maternity Pay
  • Enhanced adoption pay for eligible colleagues at 50% of weekly pay for 12 weeks, plus 39 weeks’ Statutory Adoption Pay
  • Fostering pay for colleagues fostering a child long term
  • Sickness Absence: Barnardo’s is required to make statutory sickness payments (SSP) where staff qualify. We also have our own discretionary sick pay scheme, including full pay for a period subject to certain conditions

Leave benefits

  • Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing to 27 days per annum, after 3 years Barnardo’s service, 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo’s service and 30 days per annum, after 7 years Barnardo’s service. Those working less than full time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata
  • Option to purchase up to 5 additional days of annual leave (this is reviewed annually)
  • A Recognition Day is awarded per annual leave year as paid leave, for eligible colleagues. This is an additional day of leave which recognises our colleagues hard work
  • Fostering Leave: colleagues have the right to take up to 52 weeks if they are new foster parents fostering on a long term basis
  • Adoption Leave: colleagues adopting a child have the right to take up to 52 weeks leave
  • Support Leave: 4 weeks’ leave for partners to be taken on or around the time of birth/adoption/fostering
  • Parental Leave: eligible colleagues are entitled to 18 weeks unpaid leave to be taken by the child’s 18th birthday
  • Maternity Leave: The right to take up to 52 weeks maternity leave is available to all pregnant colleagues
  • Shared Parental Leave: eligible colleagues can share up to a maximum of 50 weeks leave and 37 weeks’ pay following the birth/adoption of child
  • Additional Leave such as carer’s, bereavement or domestic leave is available

Additional support

  • Work life balance - Barnardo’s offers a number of policies to help employees achieve a greater work life balance including flexible working
  • Employee Assistance Programme (EAP): is a health and wellbeing benefit available to Barnardo’s employees. It offers access to a variety of confidential services including telephone and online counselling and legal and financial information services
  • Travel season ticket loan: interest free currently for up to £2,340 for 2023. (the equivalent of Zones 1-4 London Annual travel pass)
  • Cycle to Work Scheme: buy a bike and/or safety equipment up to £1,000 on a tax efficient basis for the purpose of going to and from work
  • Trade union recognition: Barnardo’s has a recognition agreement with UNISON
  • Equality, Diversity & Inclusion: We have four networks (Race Equality, Disability, LGBT+ and Women) which are open to all and provide support to those that identify with them
  • Voluntary health care cash plans

Discounts

  • Barnardo’s Shops offer colleagues a 20% discount
  • Choice Discount Stores: 10% off all merchandise
  • Merlin Entertainments: big discounts available e.g. Alton Towers, Legoland
  • Discount holidays and breaks with Haven, Butlins, Forest Holidays, Pontins and Warner's at locations across the UK
  • Hotel accommodation: stay at a number of hotels in UK at a discount rate
  • There are more than 5000 discounts and deals to be found on our staff benefits platform, including discount cinema tickets and reloadable store cards