Marvin OnumonuE.ON was named one of the best workplaces for fathers at the Working Dads Employer Awards 2025, picking up awards for flexible working and leadership and culture.
The awards, co-founded by the Equal Parenting Project and Music Football Fatherhood, highlight employers who support working dads and promote gender equality.
The aim is to encourage organisations to improve support for fathers, help working families, attract and retain talent, close the gender pay gap, and promote equality in the workplace.
The 2025 awards had categories for parenting policies, flexible working, support for returning fathers, and leadership and culture.
In the parenting policies category, winners were Aviva, Suffolk County Council, E.ON, John Lewis, Vodafone, QBE and Nationwide. Waltham Forest Council was also recognised.
For flexible working, Now Teach, Suffolk County Council and E.ON were named winners.
In support for returning fathers, John Lewis, PWC, Suffolk County Council and Vodafone won awards.
The leadership and culture category saw AON, John Lewis & Partners and the British Medical Journal revealed as winners.
Helen Bradbury, chief people officer at E.ON, said: “Our people are the heart of E.ON, making it an exceptional place to work.
“By supporting our colleagues in both their professional and personal lives, we not only attract and retain the best talent but also ensure that everyone here feels valued, respected and can thrive.
“Supporting working parents and the diversity of different family structures is crucial for enhancing family wellness and fostering a harmonious work-life balance.”
Bradbury added: “Ultimately, championing gender equality benefits everyone. And these awards celebrate the progress we’ve made so far while inspiring other employers to eliminate gender-based barriers to caregiving, balancing this with a fulfilling career.
“Our mission is to move to a new energy world with a profound sense of purpose at its core, and this recognition of our dedication to inclusion is vital to the success of the energy transition.”
Dr Sarah Forbes from the University of York said: “With recent changes to flexible working regulations since the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing conversations around work-life balance, businesses are placing growing importance on policies that attract and retain top talent.
“We know that people’s attitudes towards sharing childcare have changed dramatically in recent years, with a growing desire among fathers to do more childcare.
“Supporting fathers to do so makes good business sense as research shows they increasingly want to work for, and show greater levels of commitment to, employers who make it easier to combine work and family.”
Forbes added: “We’re pleased to see that more organisations are recognising the importance of supporting working dads for family wellbeing, employee satisfaction, and gender equity.
“It’s inspiring to celebrate employers who are leading the way and making a real difference.”
