Supporting every family journey with care and commitment at E.ON

We believe work and family should support each other, not compete. Life’s journey brings many different experiences, and our approach to supporting families is about recognising every path, every moment — from the joy of new beginnings to navigating the toughest times.

Flexible working right from day one

Whether it’s hybrid working, flexible hours, job sharing, or part-time arrangements, where possible we empower our colleagues to work with their managers to design working patterns that meet their working commitments while also fitting in with family needs and personal goals.

Real stories provide real impact

Stories like those of Jane Branscombe and Naomi Furlonger, who have successfully job-shared for over a decade, show how creative working arrangements help colleagues grow professionally while finding a balance that suits them. Their success highlights that when businesses innovate around people’s lives, everyone wins. It’s part of why we were named ‘Family Friendly Employer of the Year’at the Personnel Today Awards.

Proud of the policies that grow with our people

We know that families come in all shapes and sizes, and their needs change over time. Our policies support maternity, paternity, equal parent leave, adoption, surrogacy, pregnancy loss, fertility journeys, and neonatal care.

Family life includes times of loss, and E.ON leads with compassionate, family-friendly policies. We offer two weeks of paid leave for pregnancy loss before 24 weeks, exceeding statutory requirements. For losses beyond 24 weeks, E.ON's inclusive parent leave applies equally to all parents—regardless of gender, relationship, or how they became a parent.

New for 2025 - paid time off for egg and sperm donors

Supporting families means looking beyond traditional paths to family building.  A recent addition to our unlimited fertility leave, is that we now also offer this paid time off for those who choose to donate their eggs or sperm. This new addition to our Fertility Journeys Guidance reflects our belief that creating families deserves to be supported in every form.

Becky Kearns, co-founder of Fertility Matters at Work, praised E.ON for leading the way in offering unlimited time off for fertility appointments, including for donation, setting a new standard for workplace support.

We’re also honoured to share the inspiring stories of two E.ON colleagues:

• Emma Clay, who selflessly donated her eggs after seeing the struggles of friends and family. Emma describes the journey as ‘rewarding and deeply meaningful’, knowing her gift could help many families experience the joy of parenthood.
• Laura Wattley, who, after six years of fertility challenges, welcomed her son via egg donation. She shared how donor conception changed her life and spoke of her pride knowing E.ON now champions this cause.

Their experiences highlight the profound strength, compassion, and hope behind the gift of donation — and the importance of offering real support to colleagues on all fertility journeys.

You can find out more information about how we support colleagues on fertility journeys at the Fertility Forum Inclusion Network.

Building a stronger community together

Our Working Families inclusion network brings parents, guardians, stepparents, and carers together to share experiences, find peer support, and drive positive change. We’re also committed to recognising carers, offering flexible support so no one has to choose between family and career.

This community-driven approach makes a real difference every day — reducing isolation, building resilience, and promoting inclusion across E.ON.

At E.ON, we know that when we support families — in all their forms — we create a stronger, more compassionate company. This International Day of Families, and every day that follows, we proudly recommit to building a future where every colleague — and every family — can thrive together.

Learn more about our family-friendly commitments here.