QBE named Best Workplace Diversity & Inclusion Program at Australian HR Awards

Received Excellence Award for Best Health & Wellbeing Program

QBE Insurance Australia (QBE) has been announced as the JobAccess Best Workplace Diversity & Inclusion Program at the Australian HR Awards 2020, while also being named an Excellence Awardee for Best Health & Wellbeing Program.

The Australian HR Awards celebrates the outstanding achievements of the country's top HR leaders, companies and teams across all industries and sectors. The awards were announced during a virtual ceremony attended by top HR professionals across Australia.

QBE was recognised for embedding a focus on diversity and inclusion across a range of areas, with particular merit given for being the first general insurer in Australia to launch a gender-equal paid parental leave policy, Share the Care, in addition to its focus on Family and Domestic Violence aimed at addressing the societal attitudes and gendered norms that continue to underpin gender inequality.

Launched in March 2019, Share the Care brought bold changes to the parental leave policy by removing the gendered terms of “primary” and “secondary” carer, opening up the program to all new parents to drive more equality in both the workplace, and the home.

Key highlights of the initiative include a 300+ per cent uplift in the number of men taking paid parental leave, and the male representation of employees taking paid parental leave increased significantly from 10 per cent to 27 per cent within the first 12-months of the program.

The judges commented on QBE’s genuine commitment to making a difference in the community by addressing cultural changes and systematic barriers to diversity and inclusion, as well as the employee initiatives that have heralded substantial results.

Shiona Watson, Chief HR Officer, QBE Australia Pacific said that the award recognitions reflect a lot of hard work and dedication from across the business to make QBE a great place to work.

“I’m so proud of the work that our HR team has put into building and delivering our Diversity & Inclusion and Health & Wellbeing programs, and even more proud of the participation and support of our QBE colleagues who helped us achieve fantastic results that have now been recognised through the Australian HR Awards.

“Diversity and inclusion continue to be a core focus for QBE, and we’re committed to maintaining a workplace where we’re all valued and respected. I’m delighted that our Share the Care initiative continues to be adopted by our new parents and resets what caregiving and flexibility looks like for all families.

“Furthermore, wellbeing has been a significant focus for us over the past 14 months, and our At My Best wellbeing program continues to go from strength to strength. It has been a key part of the support we've offered to our people throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and has firmly put mental health and wellbeing on the agenda across the business.”

For more information:

Sarah Bond
Senior External Communications Specialist
QBE Australia Pacific
Phone: +61 466 028 302
Email: [email protected]