Aviva employees get 26 weeks’ paid parental leave

All parents employed by insurer, Aviva plc, will be eligible for 26 weeks’ leave on full basic pay, regardless of gender, sexual orientation or how they become parents (birth, adoption or surrogacy). The new policy is part of the company’s strategy to create a diverse and inclusive culture in which barriers to career progression are removed.

Aviva is offering up to one year of parental leave, including 26 weeks at full basic pay for each parent employed by the company within the first 12 months of a child’s arrival. There is no requirement to share the parental leave between parents and, if both parents are employees of Aviva, they will each have their own entitlement to leave and pay, which they can take at the same time. The new policy applies to Aviva employees who became parents on or after 19 November 2017.

Mark Wilson, Group CEO at Aviva plc, said:

‘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. 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.’