The policies aim to create a safe and inclusive environment for players and staff who are expanding their families, with an emphasis on providing choice.
As part of the new policies implemented across the Yorkshire Family - including Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC), Northern Diamonds, the Yorkshire Cricket Board (YCB), and the Yorkshire Cricket Foundation (YCF) - colleagues on maternity or adoption leave will receive six months of full pay. This is believed to be a first in English cricket.
Yorkshire Cricket will also support pregnant players who wish to continue to be involved in the team environment. The safety of the player and unborn child will be considered through risk assessments, and suitable alternative employment will be provided when needed.
Yorkshire has improved its co-parent leave policy, allowing secondary carers to take up to 12 weeks of leave (four of which are at full pay) and become the primary carer within the first 52 weeks after birth, adoption, or surrogacy. They are entitled to up to 52 weeks of shared parental leave, with up to 13 weeks at full pay.
In recognition of the significant impact of the loss of a baby, Yorkshire Cricket has introduced a minimum of two weeks of paid leave for anyone affected by a pregnancy loss, with further support for those who are faced with the responsibility of caring for a stillbirth or newborn baby.
Yorkshire Cricket consulted with various stakeholders in the sports industry, including the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA), to ensure that these policies meet the unique needs of the Yorkshire Family.