Nib New Zealand launches updated benefits for staff

Insurance company nib New Zealand has launched a variety of updated benefits for its employees, including paid parental and cultural leave, among others, as part of its commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Rob Hennin, nib chief executive officer, said the company's paid parental leave offers employees up to 18 weeks of time away, in addition to the statutory payment, whether they are primary or secondary carer in the first two years of the child's life.

"Our offering of paid parental leave regardless of career status is quite unique for workplaces in New Zealand and provides greater opportunity for all parents to share family responsibilities," said the CEO. "It also helps address the employment, income and career progression gaps that we know wahine across the country are still experiencing when caring for a child or family."

Another new benefit from nib is its five days of cultural leave, which grants Māori employees time away to practice their traditional rituals and customs.

"We have introduced five days paid leave to enable our Māori employees to participate in Koroneihana and Poukai or fulfil their cultural obligations," said Hennin. "We understand these practices are important to Māori culture, tradition and identity and we want our employees to feel supported to take part in these days of significance with their whānau."

These are just two of the benefits the company launched on July 1 for its more than 200 staff. Other perks include:

• paid grandparents leave
• paid gender affirmation leave
• natural disaster leave
• flexible public holidays
• ability to purchase additional annual leave
• increased paid family and domestic violence leave

Hennin said these benefits are the company's way of demonstrating its commitment to its Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan launched last year.

"These new benefits mean we're making good on our commitments while ensuring our people have the flexibility to balance their work and personal needs," he said.

Flexibility at nib

Meanwhile, nib said that its newest benefits add to the company's hybrid working model, which includes a NZ$1,040 work allowance to support remote work.

Hennin said 84% of their employees now have flexibility in their work schedule since their hybrid working model was introduced last year.

"Life at nib means our people have the flexibility to choose when, where and how they work and it's important our policies, practices, and benefits support this," said the CEO. "Our benefits also help position us as a market leader when it comes to our employees. We aim to be an employer of choice for both our existing and future employees."