Insurer QBE Europe has been certified as a family-friendly workplace following changes to its UK benefits provision to support working parents.
The Family Friendly Workplace scheme, created by Unicef in Australia and launched in partnership with Working Families in the UK, recognises employers that are committed to creating family-friendly workplaces.
The certification is based on a self-assessment test on current family-friendly policies and an evidence-based programme that aligns to the United Nation’s sustainable development goals.
QBE introduced enhanced paternity leave in 2023, and offers all employees 26 weeks’ leave at full pay and up to 52 weeks leave regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, or how they became a parent.
Additionally, it has retained a hybrid-working model without enforcing returned office days.
It also increased its annual leave allowance to 30 days and extended its private medical insurance (PMI) cover to include support with fertility investigations and treatment, menopause, gender dysphoria and assessment and early support for autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia.
QBE introduced the digital health app, Peppy, to provide UK staff with personalised expert support and resources on menopause, fertility and early parenthood.
Emma Higgins, chief people officer at QBE International, said: “We are proud to be the first organisation and insurer in the UK to be accredited as a family-friendly workplace. When employees feel valued and supported in their roles as parents and caregivers, they are more engaged, productive, and loyal.
“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 is delighted with the positive impact its policies are having on our people, and we hope our policies can serve as a model, demonstrating that progressive structures and systems and internal policy change can effectively support workplace equality.
“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.”
