RSA Insurance enhances family friendly policies

RSA Insurance has updated its suite of family friendly policies to provide additional support for its 4,500 members of staff.

From January 2022, the business will implement changes to its maternity and adoption, paternity and shared parental leave initiatives, which will include increased paternity leave to six weeks on full pay from two previously, a rise in maternity and adoption leave to 26 weeks from 18 on full pay, a reduction in the qualifying period from 12 to six months, and full pay for up to 26 weeks for shared parental leave.

Other family friendly policies introduced this year include IVF and fertility leave of up to 16 paid days per annum, maternity or shared parental leave for up to four weeks if the baby needs to remain in hospital, and two weeks of compassionate leave for all parents who experience a miscarriage.

This follows the organisation’s recent commitment to becoming an accredited menopause friendly employer, which is where a business makes a significant effort to care about the wellbeing of staff and has a clear understanding of how menopause can have an effect at work.

Karen Caddick, UK and international HR director at RSA, explained that anything the business can do that helps staff to feel more comfortable and supported in their roles is something it will always look at. She believes that as people’s needs often evolve and circumstances change, enhancing the policies in place was the natural next step and the right thing to do.

“From an employer’s perspective, this means we have a responsibility to constantly look at the policies we do have, the policies we don’t have and understand where we need to provide greater support and focus. We regularly listen to our colleagues, and will continue to do so, as this is one of several ways we can offer a working environment that is truly employee-centric,” Caddick said.