Management Consulting
Aon
Full Credential Description
Aon faced a significant challenge in supporting its UK employees who have caring responsibilities for relatives, partners, or friends. Many employees were using their annual leave to manage these responsibilities, which highlighted a gap in the company's support framework for working carers. To address this issue, Aon launched a new carers leave policy that provides up to five days of paid leave each calendar year. This policy is designed to offer flexibility and support to employees balancing their work with their caregiving duties, particularly for those caring for elderly relatives or individuals with disabilities or illnesses. The tailored solution was developed in response to feedback from Aons UK Parents and Carers Business Resource Group, which emphasized the need for a more formalized framework to assist employees with caring responsibilities. The new policy not only allows for paid leave but also continues to provide six sessions of back-up care each year through My Family Care, ensuring that employees have access to care when their regular arrangements are unavailable. As a result of implementing this policy, Aon aims to alleviate the stress faced by employees juggling work and caregiving, thereby improving their overall wellbeing and job satisfaction. This initiative is particularly timely, as it aligns with the recent legislative changes in the UK that entitle unpaid carers to one week of unpaid leave per year. By offering paid leave ahead of these regulations, Aon positions itself as a supportive employer, enhancing employee retention and recruitment while addressing the needs of the 5.7 million unpaid carers in the UK.