AXA has unveiled a new employee health and wellbeing programme which aims to support its 110,000-strong global workforce.
The insurer and asset manager’s ‘We Care’ scheme includes new policies to cover caregiving, domestic and sexual violence, parents and general health.
According to the company, the programme offers a range of resources to help staff make confident decisions throughout their life stages and at key moments, both personally and professionally.
The new caregiver policy includes up to five days of fully paid leave for staff caring for immediate family members who need care or eldercare because of a disability or serious health condition.
Under the domestic and sexual violence policy, employees affected will also have access to five days of fully paid leave, as well as flexible working options, psychological support and specialist services.
The company’s enhanced parental policy will provide double the length of fully paid co-parent leave from four weeks to eight weeks, in addition to the 16 weeks of fully paid parental leave for the primary parent. Extra leave and flexible working options will also be available to staff undertaking in-vitro fertilisation and those affected by pregnancy loss.
AXA is also expanding its Healthy You programme, which was originally introduced in 2020. The provision includes benefits such as psychological assistance, teleconsultation services, medical check-ups, a minimum financial coverage in the case of cancer and more.
It will now additionally incorporate workplace support for those impacted by menstrual health conditions, menopause, or andropause.
According to the company, the provision “reflects an important evolution in the existing offering” and enables it to “progress further on its long-term commitment towards an inclusive and supportive global workplace culture”.
Karima Silvent, AXA’s group chief human resources officer, said: “At AXA, we care deeply about our people. It’s what we stand for. Insurance is a people-driven business, and it is simply good sense to care for our people’s growth and fulfilment.
“With a presence that spans 51 countries, it was crucial for us to build on top of the existing local services and benefits, a global programme that offers the same benefits to all our employees. Through ‘We Care’, AXA acknowledges that employees may have complex and varying lives and aims to provide a platform that empowers our employees to care for themselves and their loved ones, no matter where they are based in the world.
While the programme sets global minimum standards that comply with local practices and legislation, these may increase based on local context.
AXA plans to make the programme available to all employees across 51 countries by the end of 2024.
Thomas Buberl, AXA’s CEO, added: “AXA has a long-standing tradition of building a diverse, flexible, and inclusive working environment where our people feel supported.
“It is key that we make sure our employees have access to various health benefits adapted to their specific needs.
This global programme concretely shows our commitment to care for our employees’ overall wellbeing and to be there for them in the moments which matter.”
