Energy provider E.On, accountancy firm Grant Thornton and law firm Hill Dickinson have been named among the top 30 family-friendly and flexible employers for 2025.
The list, which is compiled by charity Working Families, assesses employers using its benchmark, scoring them on four key areas to build a picture of their flexible and family-friendly policies and practices that support parents and carers.
These include the creation, development and deployment of flexible and family-friendly working policies and their take-up; how well flexible and family-friendly working is supported; culture, attitude and how far flexible and family-friendly working practices have become embedded; and the effects of flexible and family-friendly working on the organisation and their ability to understand them.
The top 10 employers for working families in alphabetical order are:
- Audt Wales
- DAC Beachcroft
- Grant Thornton
- Hill Dickinson
- Imperial College London
- Independent Living Fund London
- Mishcon de Reya
- NELFT
- Pinsent Masons
- Welsh Parliament (Senedd Cymru)
Working Families’ benchmark also found that 94% actively encourage their managers to work in a flexible and family-friendly way, 78% see flexible working as a means of improving operational effectiveness, and 80% provide flexible working options on their website.
Four-fifths (82%) plan to include flexible working options in all job adverts within a year to address gender pay and progression, 86% carry out an analysis on vacancies to determine flexibility options, and 55% go beyond the statutory minimum by enhancing carers’ leave for an average of 5.3 days. Overall, 98% offer support for wellbeing.
Jane van Zyl, chief executive officer of Working Families, said: “Our Top Employers are a reminder that there are employers which are already forging a path for family-friendly and flexible working that others can follow, safe in the knowledge that not only will their business not suffer, but it will thrive. Supporting carers, finding flexibility in job roles, and encouraging change from the top, as our benchmark employers do, all add up to create inclusive workforces where everyone is empowered to work at their best.”
Helen Bradbury, chief people officer at E.On UK, added: “Our commitment to the wellbeing of our employees is unwavering, and we understand that fostering a culture where all parents and carers can thrive is crucial. Over the years, we’ve implemented numerous initiatives to support our employees in starting and raising a family, no matter their circumstances. This partnership underscores our ongoing efforts to ensure our policies and practices meet the diverse needs of our workforce.”
