How improving our policies supports families every step of the way
We understand that family life is as unique as the people who live it. Whether you’re planning to start a family, navigating the whirlwind of parenting, or balancing work with school runs and sleepless nights, we’re dedicated to creating a supportive environment for all our colleagues.
We’re passionate about championing gender equality, celebrating diversity, and ensuring every parent feels supported and empowered. That’s why we revamped our Parenting Guidance — a comprehensive resource designed to support families at every stage.
Here’s what’s included:
• Family-building options: Covering maternity, paternity, adoption, and surrogacy
• Equal parental leave: Because fairness matters
• Flexible working: Tailored schedules for modern families
• Fertility leave: Supporting the journey to parenthood
• Special leave: From pregnancy loss to neonatal care
From planning leave to navigating the return-to-work transition, our guide offers practical advice, nursing resources, childcare tips, and solutions for managing the work-life juggle. We believe every company should prioritise the wellbeing of their employees, and we’re proud to lead by example.
Listening to what matters
Updating our Parenting Guidance wasn’t just about ticking a box—it was about truly listening. Feedback from focus groups highlighted gaps in our processes and support, so we made real changes:
1. Smarter communication
We simplified processes and created clearer, more actionable tools, such as:
• Improved maternity letters: more clarity, less confusion
• Expectant mothers’ checklist: Streamlined planning resources
• Coaching for Success
We’ve introduced career coaching tailored for parents, with personalised support led by experts like Emma Fallon.
Katie Chipps, Senior Delivery Manager, shared her experience: “Emma’s support has been invaluable. Each session is well-structured, tailored, and focused on actionable solutions. It’s made a significant difference to my transition back to work after maternity leave.”
2. Fostering community connections
Through initiatives like our Listening Cafés, which are open platforms where colleagues can share, help and connect over specific topics, we’re building a supportive community for parents to thrive. A regular E.ON attendee shared her thoughts: “The Parenting Café made me feel less alone in the daily juggle of work and family. I’m so grateful for these spaces and encourage anyone to join!”
3. Tailoring support across teams
We’re also adapting our guidance to fit the unique needs of our diverse teams. In our Net Zero Delivery team, where male colleagues outnumber female colleagues, People Leads have enhanced support for line managers and colleagues, offering tailored guidance and one-to-one sessions to ensure no one feels lost in the process.
Lisa James, Senior People Champion, explains: “We’ve seen great feedback from providing clear milestones, signposting resources, and offering direct support. It’s made a huge difference for our colleagues.”
Early feedback shows the impact of our approach. Natasha, who joined E.ON Next while 19 weeks pregnant, shared her experience on LinkedIn: “I’ve joined a business that’s supportive from day one. Every question I had was answered promptly, and I felt confident and cared for as a new, pregnant colleague.”
A culture of care
At E.ON, we’re committed to making life easier for working parents and creating a culture where everyone feels valued and supported— regardless of their family journey.
As one of the UK’s most inclusive employers, we believe in being transparent about how we measure up on key diversity and inclusion metrics. Every year we share our progress when it comes to diversity and inclusion, as well as the steps we still need to take to improve, in our annual inclusion report.
We’ll continue to learn, adapt and grow as our colleagues work towards a better future.