Diversity barriers in the world of insurance are slowly starting to tumble as the issue is thrust firmly into the spotlight by events like the Dive In Festival and by high profile campaigners like
Inga Beale. Now, one major insurance firm has taken serious action to help further the cause.
Aviva has introduced a group-wide policy offering men and women equal parental leave – meaning parents are eligible for the same amount of paid and unpaid time off.
The new parental policy will be applied to employees who become a parent on or after November 19, 2017 – this policy begins in the UK, Ireland, France, Singapore and Canada. The company plans to extend the offer to all other Aviva businesses within the next year.
According to a release announcing the measure, the amount of time off and pay is determined by each local business with the intention that Aviva’s parental leave policy be market leading in each country.
“I want to live in a world where the only criteria for success is someone’s talent, not their gender. Treating parents equally will help make this happen,” commented group chief executive officer Mark Wilson. “We want Aviva to be a progressive, inclusive, welcoming place to work. It’s good for our people and it’s also good business sense.”
“We think this is one of the most ground-breaking, family-friendly policies offered by any employer,” added chief people officer Sarah Morris. “It’s time to equalise parental leave and create a level playing field for men and women who want to take time out from their career to spend with their family. This will transform the first year of parenthood for many families, giving them the opportunity to spend precious time together. It’s one of our commitments to build a more inclusive and diverse culture at Aviva.”
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