QBE has become the first company in the UK to receive Family Friendly Workplace certification, following the programme’s launch in the UK through a partnership with Working Families, a national charity supporting working parents and carers. The certification, developed by UNICEF in Australia in 2021, recognises employers that are leading the way in creating inclusive and supportive environments for parents and carers.
Emma Higgins, chief people officer at QBE International, said the company continues to adapt to the varied needs of its workforce. “We are proud to be the first organisation and insurer in the UK to be accredited as a Family Friendly workplace,” she said. “When employees feel valued and supported in their roles as parents and caregivers, they are more engaged, productive, and loyal.”
She added that the company’s approach is not just about offering benefits but about building an organisation where everyone can thrive. “By recognising and accommodating the diverse needs of our workforce whether that’s through flexibility or equalised parental leave, we build a stronger, more inclusive organisation where our people and our business can thrive.”
QBE introduced new parental benefits in the UK in 2023, including up to 52 weeks of leave with 26 weeks fully paid, available to all employees regardless of gender, sexual orientation or the way they become parents. Since the change, 75% of eligible employees have taken full paternity leave. While many businesses have reinstated mandatory office days, QBE has kept its hybrid working policy in place with no current plans to reverse it.
Higgins said even small steps could help businesses move in the right direction. “Every business faces its own set of challenges, but employers can take incremental steps as their own circumstances allow. They may consider enhancing parental leave policies by just one week to start – any change in the number of weeks offered can make a difference to families.”
Supporting working parents is not just the right thing to do, it’s proven to be good for business. Research from the University of Birmingham found that 76.5% of managers noticed improved productivity when flexible working was offered to parents. Meanwhile, a CIPD report showed that over half of employers struggling with hiring saw better results when they implemented flexible options.
QBE’s own research found that more than 26 million people in the UK believe their own or their partner’s paternity leave was too short. The company has seen a rise in employee loyalty and a drop in turnover since rolling out its equalised parental leave policy in January 2023.
Jane van Zyl, CEO of Working Families, praised QBE for leading the way. “We’re delighted that QBE have received their worthy recognition as a family-friendly employer. As one of the supporting partners of the Family Friendly Workplaces Certification, QBE demonstrated their commitment to creating family-friendly cultures from the off.” She added, “Having gone through the certification process and becoming a certified ‘Family Inclusive Workplace’, QBE are walking the talk, showing that they care about supporting employee wellbeing, promoting inclusivity and inspiring change within the wider world of insurance, and beyond.”
The certification involves a self-assessment of current policies and is aligned with the United Nations’ sustainable development goals. More information is available at familyfriendlyworkplaces.co.uk.
According to data from Pregnant Then Screwed and the Centre for Progressive Policy, better paternity leave policies could help reduce the gender pay gap and boost the UK economy by as much as £23 billion. However, nearly half of pregnant women and mothers returning from maternity leave say they have faced negative experiences at work, with one in five resigning as a result.
