Exploring careers in construction
Construction is a huge industry that spans everything from architecture and house building...read more
The companies honoured for family-friendly policies
QBE, the British Medical Journal, John Lewis Partnership and Aon UK won prizes at the 2023 Working Dads Employer Awards.
This year’s Working Dads Employer Awards, handed out by the Equal Parenting Project and Music Football Fatherhood,shows how companies can support parents, aid working families, attract and retain top talent and reduce pay inequalities.
The Parental Policies Award was presented to QBE, Suffolk County Council, Vodafone UK and E.ON, celebrating organisations who excel in enhancing their parenting policies and encouraging fathers to use these policies.
Andy Tong, General Manager of QBE, says, “At QBE there is a strong emphasis on doing the right thing for our people and providing support in the moments that matter. Our enhanced policy means all new parents are entitled to the same amount of company enhanced leave and pay, regardless of gender, sexual orientation or how they become a parent.
“We believe this will help to remove barriers to career progression, challenge traditional gender roles and level the playing field for women and men at home and at work. Offering extended paternity leave and supporting fathers in the workplace has wide-reaching benefits for co-parents themselves, their children, and employers who gain a more engaged and loyal workforce. This also has a positive impact on gender equality beyond our organisation and reflects the needs of dual career families, as time away from work to care for a child can be more equally split. Our intention is to create a culture in which taking paternity leave and extended time out is normalised.”
The Flexible Working Award was presented to E.ON.
Sarah Farmer, Director of Residential Sales, E.ON UK, says, “As executive sponsor of our Parent Network and someone who works flexibly, I am very much an advocate of the benefits flexible working and equal parent leave brings to both colleagues and the business. I believe that flexible working empowers our people to be at their best. Applying for the Working Dads Employer Awards was a great opportunity to highlight some of the great things E.ON offers for our colleagues.”
Finally, the Leadership and Culture Award was presented to the British Medical Journal, John Lewis Partnership and Aon UK.
Chris Jones, Chief Executive Officer of the British Medical Journal, says, “We encourage men and fathers to be allies for gender equity and to feel comfortable expressing their vulnerability at work. We learn together about issues such as loneliness, mental health and the challenges of being a carer. We recognise that these issues are intersectional. We talk about LGBQTIA+ inclusive parenting, parenting neurodiverse children, single parenting, parenting teens, and more.”
Dr Will Stahl-Timmins, PhD, is a Data Graphics Designer at the BMJ: “When my daughter was born, I wanted to be part of her life right from the start. It was important for me to gain skills and confidence as her carer, at par with my partner. I was able to take 10 weeks off at full pay to care for her through shared parental leave. Now that she is a bit older, our flexible work policy and the supportive culture in my team allow me to respond to childcare emergencies where other arrangements fall through at the last minute. It makes me feel able to be there for my daughter when she needs me, not just a mysterious figure who’s always working!”
The awards involved of partners including Business in the Community, Working Families, CIPD, Global Equality Collective, Pregnant and Screwed, Fatherhood Institute, Future Men and Women’s Medical Foundation.
Read more:
What are my rights as a father?
The Internet helped save my son’s life
Related
Paternity Leave
Paternity pay when you have more than one job
An increasing number of parents are doing more than one job, particularly during the cost...read more
