Insurer Aviva to offer mothers and fathers full paternity pay

All staff at the insurer will receive 26 weeks full pay, regardless of gender, sexual orientation or how they became a parent.

Aviva said the move was part of its overall strategy to create a diverse and inclusive working culture in which barriers to career progression are removed.

Aviva​, which employs 2,000 people in York and 1,300 in Sheffield, said the move would create a “level playing field” for all of its staff. Fathers often take a minimum amount of time off for financial reasons, whilst their partner’s income is reduced.

The new parental leave policy will be offered to Aviva employees who become a parent on or after November 19 in the UK, Ireland, France, Singapore and Canada.

It said it will be working to extend this to all other Aviva businesses within the next year.

The amount of time off and pay is determined by each local business with the intention Aviva’s parental leave policy is market leading in each country.

Mark Wilson, Group Chief Executive Officer, Aviva plc said: “I want to live in a world where the only criteria for success is someone’s talent, not their gender.

Treating parents equally will help make this happen. We want Aviva to be a progressive, inclusive, welcoming place to work. It’s good for our people and it’s also good business sense.”

Sarah Morris, Chief People Officer at Aviva, said: “We think this is one of the most ground-breaking, family-friendly policies offered by any employer.

“It’s time to equalise parental leave and create a level playing field for men and women who want to take time out from their career to spend with their family.

“This will transform the first year of parenthood for many families, giving them the opportunity to spend precious time together. It’s one of our commitments to build a more inclusive and diverse culture at Aviva.”

The move comes just 24 hours after education minister Robert Goodwill told MPs that a cultural change on paternity leave needs to continue so fathers take a role in early childcare.

Mr Goodwill said it was not just down to the Government to improve the take-up of paternity leave after being asked what more could be done to encourage fathers.

He told MPs there was “a lot of cultural change that needs to continue to take place in this country”.