A Kinder Start: Aviva's Back-to-School Leave Supports Parents

The start of a new school year is often a mix of excitement and nerves; not just for children, but for their parents too. Whether it's a first day ever or a big transition to secondary school, it’s a milestone that many parents want to be present for.

At Aviva, a company dedicated to flexible, family-friendly policies, they've put support in place to make this transition a little smoother.

Aviva is proud to offer its UK colleagues half-a-day of paid leave so they can be there for their children on their first day at a new primary or secondary school.

Making Memories on Day One

The policy offers parents the gift of time, allowing them to focus on their family instead of having to rush back to the office.

This was the case for Rowan, Partner Operations Lead, who used his leave to walk his daughter to her first-ever day of primary school. As a busy working father, Rowan noted that taking advantage of the half-day leave was great, helping him "have one less thing to juggle in the morning" on such an important day.

The benefit was also appreciated by Shelley, who works in the Media Relations team. She took the half-day leave for her daughter's first day of secondary school. While her daughter was too old to want her mum to hold her hand, Shelley was glad to be able to spend time with her that morning and noted, "She is grateful that we got to spend some time together this morning."

This small but significant benefit shows Aviva's commitment to reducing the stress of these big life moments for their people, ensuring parents can be fully present for these milestones.

Creating an Inclusive Culture

The back-to-school leave is just one example of Aviva's commitment to supporting their people and building an inclusive environment for modern families. Since 2017, the company has offered Equal Parental Leave, which has seen a significant uptake across the business.

Since 2018, almost 4000* people at Aviva have taken advantage of Equal Parental Leave. Tellingly, almost half of those (46%*) were men, demonstrating a positive shift in how parents can share caring responsibilities.

By offering practical support like paid back-to-school leave, Aviva underscores the importance of a work-life balance that truly works for its diverse workforce.

Interested in a career with a company that values family and flexibility?