Parent’s Network
" At OC&C we know in order to succeed you need to be able to find the right balance between your work and home lives. "
This is achieved through policies and guidelines that benefit all staff – such as up to 3 months of unpaid leave a year, subject to tenure and role thresholds, and specific support mechanisms that ease the potential pain points that parents and carers specifically face, such as emergency childcare coverage. One of our recent successes – which we are immensely proud of – was the launch of our fully equalised paid parental leave for all employees, in a global move towards gender equality. This market-leading family policy promotes shared care through both equalising paid leave and introducing flexibility for how that leave is taken, allowing all parents to make decisions based on what works for them.
We also know that both preparing for parental leave and returning to work can be a challenge, so we support our employees with a personalised ramp up and down plan that includes reduced hours, internal roles, and the ability to apply for a return-to-work model at certain grades.
Each employee will have a personalised keeping-in-touch plan during leave, and parental coaching sessions are offered to all new parents. These can be taken prior to, during, and on return from leave to ensure they happen when most effective for each individual.
a support network for working parents and carers
The Parents’ Network is a key pillar of our Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) council, which ensures that ongoing business decisions account for issues that may face our parents and carers, as well as significantly contributing to shaping our policies and ways of working within our firm. The network also holds regular events about being a parent at OC&C, and provides a forum for parents and carers to share tips and tricks, as well as to ask questions from those who may have been through some of the issues being faced.
Meet our Parental Champions
" “The flexible working scheme is a hugely valuable benefit which gives me the chance to balance my career and having a young family. I spend my Fridays off with my twin daughters and help out at their school. I also take a month of unpaid leave every year to be with them in the summer holidays, which is wonderful time for us all.” "
Mairi
Partner and Chair of Shareholder Committee
" “As one of the first beneficiaries of OC&C’s equalized parental leave I’m proud to work somewhere that supports parents. The extended leave, and the flexibility on when I could take it, was a huge help for my wife and me as we adjusted to life as working parents.” "
Karl
Associate Partner
" “Given my role, I have seen first-hand how much OC&C cares about ensuring our workplace is somewhere employees can balance family life and work life. Our policies and benefits are structured with a genuine expectation that they will be used, as demonstrated by numerous members of our leadership team, and it is comforting to know that, in an otherwise potentially long and fast paced career, there is support to pause or re-prioritise if you need to. I am now preparing for a year of my own parental leave knowing the firm is cheering me on” "
Stephanie
Head of HR, Global
Frequently asked questions
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What is the purpose of the Parents’ Network, and who can join?
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What maternity, paternity and adoption support does OC&C offer?
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What role does the Parents’ Network play in shaping company policies?
" The additional demands on my time have been somewhat of a challenge (even if an expected one) - giving enough time to my family on the evenings as well as feeling that I am meeting the requirements of work and maintaining some elements of a social life have been tough, so I try to be as disciplined as possible at blocking out when I am and am not working, and making this clear to teams. The ability to split parental leave has been invaluable – I honestly don’t know how we’d have coped if I had needed to be back at work after two weeks! Flexible working has also been hugely helpful, allowing me to attend important events like scans, check-ups and vaccines. Becoming a parent is undoubtedly a big change, and a massive milestone in life, but it’s so rewarding – and OC&C is really front-footed in the approach to parenthood, which makes the transition easier. "
Ralph
Associate Partner
" OC&C were brilliant when I returned from maternity leave - I had the option to move to 3 days a week which I took for 3 years, moving up to 4 days once my youngest was 2. The flexibility of project work also means now my kids are at school I can take large parts of the holidays off – something which many of my clients are jealous of! "
Felicity
Associate Partner
" For me, the biggest challenge wasn’t so much at work, but adjusting to how my role shifted at home. Before having kids, my focus was very much on work — afterwards, that naturally shifted. Being away from them was hard at first, but that changes over time. What really helped was the support structure OC&C has in place to guide you through that transition. I felt genuinely supported through the transition to parenthood — HR reached out early on and set up regular catch-ups, creating space to talk through challenges and adjust. There’s also a global training programme and a parents panel where senior colleagues share their own experiences. Hearing from partners who’ve been through it made a big difference. "
Lu
Consultant
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How does the Parents’ Network collaborate with other company OC&C networks, such as the Women’s Network or Disabilities Network?
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How does the Parents’ Network support employees balancing work and family life?
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Are carers included in the Parents’ Network, and what kind of support is available to them through OC&C?
" When I joined OC&C nearly nine years ago as an experienced hire and already a parent, it was a very different environment — there were few, if any, consultants or managers with children. The culture has shifted significantly since then. Policies like parental leave have improved dramatically, and there's now much greater openness and awareness around the challenges of being a working parent. My biggest advice to new or expecting parents is to be honest about what you need — people genuinely want to make things work. Early on, I was nervous about speaking up around childcare obligations, but once I did, I found real support. Whether it’s flexible working, unpaid leave, or simply talking about parenting more openly, the culture here now encourages those conversations. "
Dan
Associate Partner
" The core challenge is the volume of work as a parent and strategy consultant. Both are demanding but very rewarding endeavours, and the reality is that it takes commitment, hard work, and a supporting family and network. OC&C globally and our local team are very respectful of the balance between parenthood and work, and trust me to deliver on my commitments over the long run, even when it means needing to step away for family challenges! I have been very grateful for OC&C parental leave policy. When my second child was born, I took three months leave and have just returned from the second stage of that paternity leave as our son turned one. That allowed me to be the primary carer while my wife prepared to return to work – equalised paternity leave is rare in Australia. "
Oliver
Associate Partner
" One of the biggest things I’ve learned is the importance of being upfront from the start of a project. In consulting, you often work with new teams and managers, so setting expectations early — whether that’s around working hours, travel, or flexibility — really helps. The culture at OC&C is supportive, and people are generally happy to accommodate if you communicate clearly. There’s a shared understanding that life exists outside of work, and that trust goes a long way. I’ve made good use of the support on offer — from flexible working and regular work-from-home days to the executive coaching sessions after parental leave. Having a career coach outside the consulting world was incredibly grounding and helped me set healthy boundaries. The ramp-up programme when returning from leave also made the transition smoother, with more manageable hours and a focus on internal projects. "
Eve
Associate Consultant
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How can I access resources, such as parental leave guides or flexible working options?
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Are there regular events or forums organised for parents?
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Can employees across all levels and geographies join the network, and how can they contribute?
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Does OC&C provide specific resources for parents of children with disabilities or additional needs?