Dolly Parton once observed that a 9-5 is “all takin’ and no givin.” 

At Clearbox, we can’t help but disagree (no disrespect, Dolly). We want our team to receive as much support as they give to our clients each and every day, so we recently revisited our benefits package. 

As a dynamic, ever-evolving agency, the way we work is constantly changing. That means our team, their roles and the needs of the wider business are also subject to change. 

Benefits only make sense if they work for your team, so our latest refresh has involved a slight shift in priorities that reflects actual feedback from our people. What a way to make a livin’…

Supporting mums and dads

We’ll start with our biggest and most important change. 

We’re proud to announce that Clearbox now offers enhanced maternity and paternity pay, going beyond the basics to give people more security at a time when life is changing fast.

From today, we will offer new mums:

• Full pay for the first month of their maternity leave.
• National Living Wage (£458/week) for months 2–6, then statutory pay thereafter.

We understand that enhanced paternity leave is crucial to helping new mums. From today, we’re increasing support for dads too: 

• 4 weeks full pay.
• The option to split this leave over the first 6 months and take an additional 2 weeks unpaid. 

Compassionate and carers leave also remains available on a case-by-case basis, because we know that sometimes life throws things at you unexpectedly.             

We continue as usual to offer private medical insurance, life insurance, income protection and a health cash plan. No fuss. No gimmicks.

Here for a flexi-time, not a long time

Flexible working isn’t exactly new at Clearbox. But flexibility without clarity doesn’t really help anyone. With this in mind, we’ve created a flexible working model that offers both flexibility and visibility for our entire team.

Everyone has the option to work from home one day a week, which we’ve aligned to a shared WFH Thursday. It keeps collaboration easy, client availability clear, and avoids the “who’s in today?” guessing game.

We’ve also introduced flexible office hours – start earlier, finish earlier or start later, finish later! Just keep your hours visible on Slack so everyone knows when you’re around.  

The key thing? It’s a grown-up system. Flexibility works when people respect it – and when the work still gets done. If something needs finishing or a client needs you, you don’t just log off. Give and take. Communicate. Simple.

Annual leave, updated

Unlimited leave sounds great in theory. In reality, it wasn’t working as well as it should.

We’ve now moved to a more structured annual leave system, while keeping flexibility where it’s being used. Everyone has a defined allowance of 25 days of holiday plus 10 Bank Holidays, with the option to buy extra days, sell unused ones, or carry them over. More choice, less confusion. 

We’ve also built in the option to swap statutory holidays for those who celebrate different cultural or religious events. Because one size doesn’t necessarily fit all.

And when life happens during work hours: appointments, deliveries, family emergencies – Homelife Flex is there. This isn’t extra holiday time, it’s common sense. A few hours, approved by your line manager, to deal with the stuff that can’t always wait.

Growth isn’t optional

All of this to say that Clearbox only grows if our people do.

Every team member has access to a £1,000 annual training budget, clear career pathways after probation, and additional company-funded training where it makes sense. We’re also introducing ad-hoc advice and support clinics, shaped by what the team actually wants help with.

We’ll also fund one major award entry per year, because great work deserves recognition (with the usual client approvals, of course).

And if you help us hire great people? There’s a £500 referral bonus to say thanks.

The big picture

And then there are some things that just didn’t need changing. So we didn’t!

Vouchers, socials, Friday treats, a dog-friendly office, bottomless drinks… it’s all still part of the deal. Because culture matters, and the “nice stuff” isn’t fluff, it’s part of what makes Clearbox, Clearbox.

This benefits update isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress.

We want a flexible, modern workplace that supports our team – and a business that’s focused, productive and growing. That balance matters. Get it right, and everyone wins.

This is the next version of Clearbox. And we think it’s a good one.

People first. Business focused. Always.