MS Amlin, a specialist Lloyd’s re/insurer, has announced a new paid carer’s leave policy for its employees.
The leave policy will allow employees to take a week off to provide care for their dependents as it aims to support those who are juggling the multiple responsibilities of looking after their loved ones while performing work tasks. It is also part of MS Amlin’s expanding array of life-stage benefits for its employers.
“As we live longer and family structures change, more of us will find ourselves responsible for caring for dependents. Juggling caring duties with a full or part-time job can be overwhelming, and we believe people should not feel forced to choose between their careers and caring responsibilities,” said MS Amlin chief people officer Gemma Lines.
“By introducing paid carer’s leave, we aim to alleviate some of the strain on working carers, and foster an inclusive working environment that supports people at all life stages,” added Lines.
The insurer’s policy stated that employees will be given up to five days of paid leave in a year in order to care for a spouse, civil partner, child, parent, or another dependent household member or neighbor.
It will be made available for employees that are providing or arranging care for someone with a physical or mental illness or injury, a registered disability, or elderly care needs. The benefit can be taken either flexibly as individual days, or consecutive full or half days.
The paid carer’s leave policy is part of the other life-stage policies that MS Amlin provides its employees. The insurer was one of the first few Lloyd’s insurers to offer six months of fully paid parental leave.
It also offers paid fertility leave, support for pregnancy loss, and diagnosis for menopause and perimenopause. Other benefits include company pension contributions of up to 13%, life assurance worth 10 times an employees’ salary, private medical care, health screening, and an employee assistance program.