The accreditation builds upon the company’s membership of Employers for Carers, the business forum of Carers UK.
In April 2024, the Carer's Leave Act 2023 came into force, giving employees the right to up to five days of unpaid leave to care for dependants in any 12-month period. Over and above this, Leonardo reinforced its commitment to employee wellbeing, by establishing a partnership with Bright Horizons earlier this year to provide additional benefits for carers. These include access to five annual Back-Up Care days for working parents and carers, to cover breakdowns in childcare, and the provision of emergency cover for adult or elder care.
Furthermore, the company has policies covering ‘special leave’ and ‘work life balance’, which each offer an agreed number of paid days to cover compassionate leave or emergency situations to support dependants. Leonardo also supports an employee-led network for carers, providing connection and support for the many employees who also have caring responsibilities.
Leonardo UK Head of Inclusion & Diversity, Rachel Ruxton, who is herself a carer to her Type 1 Diabetic daughter, said: “Gaining Carer Confident Level 1 Active accreditation is a testament to the work of our Carers network and the resulting provisions that Leonardo has put in place to support people like myself who have caring responsibilities.
“Caring for parents, partners, children or friends can be a significant commitment, both mentally and physically. So having the policies and procedures in place to support us and give us some peace of mind, is incredibly important. It also sets the tone in terms of culture, driving inclusive leadership and a colleague experience that supports the diverse needs of employees.”
