Help us find the best workplace for you by sharing more about yourself.
We will never disclose your information with others.
Committed to offering flexibility for parents
Since the pandemic began, parents all over the country have been working tirelessly to home school their children when necessary. Throughout, our people have come together to support each other - sha...
Enable Recite to make this website accessible
Aviva offers time off for child’s first day at new school
Category: Aviva, Parents, Family, Parental Leave, Parenting, shared parental leave, school, parental network, parental leave policy
The new school year can be a nerve-wracking experience for families. This year especially so, following a long period at home, without school, nursery and playgroups. To help colleagues and families across the country, Aviva is offering parents a half-day of leave to help make their child’s first day at a new school a little easier.
Since 2016, Aviva UK employees have been able to take a half-day to drop-off or pick-up their child on the first day at a new school. This leave is in addition to holiday entitlement and is available to parents of children starting a new primary or secondary school.
Since it was first introduced, over 1,000 UK employees have taken Aviva up on the additional leave opportunity.
Felicity Corrigan, who works for Aviva in Norwich said; "I’m relieved that when school starts, my kids will be in the same location for the first time and that homeschooling is over. Lockdown was definitely challenging for us all - a juggling act for me with any of the usual support system removed. Being able to take half a day off for my son’s first day of school is a nice touch.
This leave opportunity exists alongside other family-friendly policies. In November 2017, Aviva introduced a groundbreaking equal parental leave policy, offering 26 weeks of paid leave to UK mums and dads when a new child arrives. The company also introduced a scheme in October 2017 to give greater benefits to employees with caring responsibilities.
Caroline Hardy, who also works for Aviva in Norwich, said; "My son is starting secondary school this week and has ADHD. He’s worked hard to improve his focus, but lockdown set that back a bit, so starting a new school this year will be be a lot for him to take in. Taking half a day of leave is one of the great added benefits of working at Aviva. It was really easy to do – I just spoke to my line manager and logged it on the system. I’m actually taking the other half as holiday so I can drop the kids off and pick them up at the end of the day."
Danny Harmer, Aviva’s Chief People Officer said; "The first day at a new school is one of life’s momentous occasions for children and parents. This year is particularly poignant as families have spent lockdown juggling home schooling with work and children have been away from school since March.
VERCIDA works with over one hundred clients who are committed to creating an inclusive work environment. If you are an employer and interested in working with VERCIDA to promote your diversity and inclusion initiatives and attract the best candidates, please email [email protected] for more information.
Learn more about this employer
Aviva
Inclusive features
- Dependency (Parenting & Carers)
- Training & Development
Section with Articles you might like
Here we go again! Another lockdown…
Many of our people are juggling their job with caring responsibilities and home schooling so, like the first lockdown, we will continue to pay everyone in full regardless of the hours they are able t...
Parenting in the pandemic is really weird
Over 600 Aviva colleagues took equal parental leave in 2020, showing its popularity in the pandemic. Some of our dads have been reflecting on life in lockdown as a new parent. Ben Beazley, DB Solut...
Caring can be managed alongside a career
Debbie with her son Matty. Debbie Bullock is the Wellbeing lead at Aviva. Here she tells her story about being a carer and how she’s balanced her caring responsibilities with work over the years. My...