QBE Canada has announced changes to its family leave policy, extending fully paid parental leave to secondary caregivers in a move that supports workforce inclusion and talent retention within the insurance industry.
Beginning July 1, 2025, all parents at QBE Canada who are not the primary caregiver will be eligible for 17 weeks of fully paid leave. This mirrors the company’s existing maternity and pregnancy leave entitlements and is aimed at ensuring consistency in parental benefits across all employees.
The company said the policy applies regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation or the path to parenthood, whether through birth, adoption or surrogacy.
QBE Canada said the change is part of a broader effort to equalize parental benefits and foster a workplace culture that supports dual-income families and shared caregiving responsibilities.
Ben Hunter, director of Canada at QBE, said the decision is based on evidence that extended leave for secondary caregivers supports family wellbeing while contributing to a more engaged and loyal workforce. He noted that the change also promotes gender equality by enabling parents to more evenly share time away from work.
By offering equal and paid parental leave, QBE said it is positioning itself to mitigate these risks and compete for talent in a market facing skills shortages and demographic shifts.
The move follows a wider industry push to address talent gaps and evolving employee expectations. Insurers across Canada and globally are facing increasing pressure to modernize internal policies to attract and retain skilled professionals, especially as demand for digital capabilities, regulatory knowledge and specialized underwriting continues to rise.
In the context of the insurance sector, policies that improve employee retention and satisfaction have financial implications for long-term operational stability.
QBE’s updated policy is part of a growing recognition in the insurance industry that workplace benefits play a role not only in employee wellbeing but in broader business resilience and competitiveness.
