Working Dad's Employer Awards 2022 - Q&A

Question: For the flexible working category, I see that there are boxes for the data about uptake of flexible working. If we don’t have this data, will this affect our application?

No. We encourage all organisations that wish to apply for the flexible working category to apply even if they do not have the data in all areas. If you do not have data, please ensure you explain the support you offer and include a testimonial.

Question: We have an understanding that informal use of flexible working occurs within our organisation, how would we go about including this within our nomination submission?

We recognise that employees may have an informal agreement (not recorded by HR) for the use of flexible working, and if this is actively encouraged in the short term this can be mentioned when addressing the qualitative questions (i.e., the questions that require writing out the answer as opposed to simply supplying a number).

Question: There is only 1200 characters supplied for the testimonial. We have a large number we want to share so how can we do this?

You are able to supply weblinks as your submission for the nomination. The weblinks would be included in the character count for this question response.

Question: Does this category refer to fathers that have returned from a career break?

This category is about father who are returning to work after a period of leave such as Shared Parental Leave and/or Paternity Leave, or equivalent leave if your organisation offers an alternative to Paternity Leave or Shared Parental Leave.

Question: We are asked about what resources are available to fathers. What is meant by resources?

Consider it to refer to anything that the organisation supplies to the father on their return after shared parental leave and/ or paternity leave (or other equivalent).

Question: There is only 1200 characters supplied for the testimonial. We have a large number we want to share so how can we do this?

You are able to supply weblinks as your submission for the nomination. The weblinks would be included in the character count for this question response.

Question: What is meant by fatherhood champion or role model?

A fatherhood champion could be a father that has used a form of parental leave or flexible working that is recognised by the organisation by way of an internal campaign and/ or readily accessible to other parents to talk about their experience.

Question: Our organisation does not have a parenting group, what shall we write in this section?

Your organisation may actively encourage employees to engage with online father groups or there may be activities that your organisation runs. These would be great to include here.  If you don’t do any of this do not worry because you can put N/A and talk about the other things you do in the other questions. This may be something you want to consider for the future.

Question: Our organisation does not have gender pay gap information, will this be a problem?

In the UK organisations with 250 or more employees are required to report the gender pay gap. If your organisation employs fewer than 250 employees, you would not have to report the gender pay gap so you can just put ‘N/A’ if you do not collect this data.

Question: What is meant by the question, ‘Does your organisation do anything to support working fathers beyond your own organisation? If so, how?’

This is to determine what your organisation is doing to encourage change outside of your organisation. This could include supporting and advising other organisations on how to support fathers, supplying case studies to other organisations, supplying evidence for parliamentary inquiries about the importance of supporting dads etc. If this is not applicable, you can state ‘not applicable’.

Question: We don’t use the word line managers within our organisation, are we able to answer the questions that are about line managers?

Yes. The term line manager just refers to people who have line management responsibility for other members of staff.

Question: There is only 1200 characters supplied for the testimonial. We have a large number we want to share so how can we do this?

You are able to supply weblinks as your submission for the nomination. The weblinks would be included in the character count for this question response.

Question: Is it ok if the total number of fathers using paid leave is also included in the total number of fathers using unpaid leave?

We wish to know the total number that used unpaid [paternity/ shared parental] leave and the total number that used paid [paternity/ shared parental] leave. You may find that some fathers used both paid and unpaid leave and this is absolutely fine if they are included in the total number using unpaid leave and the total number using paid leave.

Question: What does enhanced pay mean?

Enhanced pay refers to the amount that is paid above the statutory level. This would mean how much (if at all) is paid above the levels of £148.68 per week (statutory amount of pay in the 2021/2022 financial year). If your organisation does not pay above the statutory level then you would report ‘Not applicable as your organisation only offers the statutory levels of [paternity/ shared parental] pay’.

Question: There is only 1200 characters supplied for the testimonial. We have a large number we want to share so how can we do this?

You are able to supply weblinks as your submission for the nomination. The weblinks would be included in the character count for this question response.