In the week school starts, Aviva York colleagues are benefitting from its ‘Family Time Off’ policy, providing parents with the flexibility to take a half-day off work when their child starts a new primary or secondary school.

Starting a new school can be an anxious time for parents and children, the insurance giant reports.

A recent study revealed that almost 50% of parents felt emotional about their child’s transition to a new school year, and 41% were nervous or anxious.

Aviva says it aims to ease the stress often associated with the first day of school to ensure parents can be fully present for their children during these major milestones.

RECOMMENDED READING:

The company believes work-life balance is also vital for staff well-being and productivity. By giving parents the opportunity to take time off for school start days, staff can balance their professional and personal lives with greater ease.

As part of its wider initiative as an inclusive employer, Aviva also became one of the first UK employers to introduce an equal parental leave policy in 2017, offering new parents in its UK business 12 months parental leave, with six months at full basic pay. The half-day off work policy was introduced in 2016 and it was taken up by 585 UK employees in 2023.

Sofia Abbas works in York as a Senior Legal Counsel and has been at Aviva for over five years. She has three children, aged 9, 7 and 4, and was able to use the ‘Family Time Off’ policy when her middle daughter, Maryam, started school.

Her youngest daughter, Inayah, is excited to follow in her older sisters’ footsteps. Sofia explained why she appreciates the policy even more this year, as Inayah started school this week.

Sofia said: “Inayah has been asking me every day when she’s starting school, as she can’t wait to go to ‘big’ school like her older sisters.

"As she’s my youngest and last child starting school, I’m more apprehensive and emotional this time as it’s dawned on me that this will be the last time I have a little one starting school. I’ll be using my half-day to get her ready, take pictures and then get her settled at school.

“My husband also works for Aviva, so he will pick her up so they can spend the rest of the afternoon playing and catching up on how her first day at school went. It’s great that Aviva recognises what an important and emotional day the first day at school can be, not just for the child, but also the parents.”

Danny Harmer, Chief People Officef at Aviva, said: “We all know that the first day of school is a special, and slightly nerve-wracking, moment for children and parents. So, at Aviva, we give our people the time and flexibility to be there to support their children.”