Aviva has become the first firm in the United Kingdom to offer equal paid leave to both mums and dads.
The company has decided to give all their employees, who are new parents, 26 weeks of leave at full pay.
New parents will be able to benefit from the new parental leave policy “regardless of gender, sexual orientation or how they became a parent."
It does no matter how their employee becomes a pregnant, so people who adopt or choose to have a baby via surrogacy are also included.
The CIPD stated that the move was positive and welcome in today's society.
Aviva stated that this step will help break down the hurdles facing new parents who do not have equal rights at work.
They believe that it will help more new parents progress in work.
They shared that it will create a "level playing field for men and women" who want to take a break from work to focus on their family life.
Despite the new step, many men aren’t using up paternal leave.
The CIPD’s spokeswoman told the BBC that the firm needs to highlight the fact that it is completely normal and acceptable for new dads to take parental leave.
She stated that it would “encourage a change in perceptions and foster a cultural change. Otherwise, male employees may still be reticent about taking time off, even if paid.”
Men tend to take less time off due to financial reasons, but this step by Aviva will help avoid any financial issues for new parents.
Chief people officer at Aviva, Sarah Morris welcomed the movement, “We think this is one of the most ground-breaking, family-friendly policies offered by any employer.”
The Aviva’s offer is nearly twice as high as the EU minimum requirement for parental leave.
Employees in the UK, Ireland, France, Canada and Singapore will benefit from this momentous step.
Aviva isn't the only company who have incredible parental leave policies.
IKEA has expanded paid benefits for up to four months for parents with a newborn in their lives. This is unique for a company in the retail sector.
Spotify offers new mums and dads up to six months of paid leave. They are also given the option to work from home or work part-time when they first return to work.
Netflix has one of the greatest parental leave policies around. The streaming service offers unlimited paid leave to new parents for an entire year.
