Energy company Ovo is to give its 4,500-strong workforce unlimited compassionate leave on full pay, it has announced. The Bristol-based supplier is also offering all its staff as much time off as they need for pregnancy related loss, including failed IVF attempts.
The company has introduced the benefits alongside a so-called 'moments that matter' policy, which will allow workers at the firm to take paid days off for important life events, such as getting married or a child’s first day of school. It is also offering employees extra "recharge leave", which will be granted after “intense periods”, it said.
These workplace benefits were introduced after Ovo carried out a survey of staff who had recently taken compassionate leave and discovered a third (34%) felt guilty about taking too much time off because of work pressures. Businesses are not required by law to offer compassionate or pregnancy loss leave.
Charlotte Eaton, chief people officer at Ovo, said the last few years had been “extremely difficult” and the pandemic had made people reassess their priorities.
“Grief is experienced differently from person to person, so we feel strongly that we shouldn't be prescriptive when it comes to compassionate leave, or leave for pregnancy loss," she said. "We hope that the offer of unlimited leave in both instances will allow individuals to recharge before returning to work with full support.
“Family time and space to reflect is crucial to overall well being, so we hope the flexible working policy and recharge leave will be equally welcomed by our people."
The announcement came just days after the energy supplier joined calls for a social tariff to help households grappling with record energy bills. The mounting cost of the Government’s energy support schemes and soaring debt interest pushed state borrowing to another record in December as rocketing inflation and power bills took their toll.
In November, a mother-of-three from Bristol accused Ovo of acting outside Ofgem regulations after she was forced on to a prepayment meter after mounting up £400 of debt in less than two months. Mirna Mestrovic cancelled her direct debit in September so that she would be able to buy school uniforms and food for her children.
According to Ofgem regulations, energy companies should only install prepayment meters as a way of recovering debt "as a last resort". Last month, Ovo halted forced prepayment meter installations over the Christmas period. Campaigners have been calling for a ban on compulsory prepayment meter installations, which are made under court warrants.
Ofcom has warned it will investigate suppliers which are forcibly switching vulnerable customers over to prepayment meters.
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