A2A strengthens its welfare plans for the benefit of its people with the “A2A Life Caring” project, a plan to support employee parenting which envisages investments of 120 million euros by 2035. A broad, complete and transversal program which testifies to the the Group's concrete commitment to supporting the birth rate in a historical phase characterized by the country's continuous demographic decline. The slow but constant decline of the Italian population is the subject of the Report “The birth rate and the challenges of parenthood in Italy: the role of companies for a new sustainable welfare model”, produced by Bocconi University with the support of A2A, from which it was it emerged that in our country fertility is at an all-time low and that in 2080 the number of residents will drop to 45.8 million. Already today, Italy is among the states with the highest number of elderly people and in 2050 people over 65 will represent 34.5% of the total. The decline in the birth rate is the reflection of personal choices, but also the response to changes in cultural, economic and social conditions.
The Bocconi-A2A study analyzes these dynamics and the impact of policies on demographic trends. Previous studies surveyed by the Report have established that corporate interventions in favor of parenthood in non-Italian contexts are associated with an average increase of 12.7% in intentions to fertility of employees. The space therefore opens up for a contribution from the private sector through the introduction of virtuous initiatives.
“The demographic collapse is one of the most urgent and complex challenges Italy faces. Also on this issue we are aware that companies have a social responsibility that they cannot avoid and for this reason, in our new Strategic Plan to 2035, we have allocated 120 million euros to support our colleagues in the growth path of their children, or in their future parenting plans. For example, we have provided an annual contribution of up to 3,250 euros for the first 3 years of the child's life”, comments Renato Mazzoncini, CEO of the Group. “For the future of the country it is important that companies like A2A contribute to supporting the public administration in carrying out policies that guarantee the best prospects for people. The hope is that our experience can be an example to encourage a cultural change on these issues”.
“A2A Life Caring”, a structured program resulting from an important agreement with trade union representatives, recognizes that being a parent entails material and immaterial challenges, especially in terms of time management and use of economic resources. The creation of a cutting-edge work ecosystem, in which people are not forced to choose between family and profession, also positively affects a company's ability to attract and retain talent.
The plan takes into consideration all dimensions of parenting and develops along three lines: «Time», «Economic support» and «Culture». The agreement provides an additional month of 100% paid maternity leave for all mothers and a month of 100% paid leave for all new fathers. The Group will also contribute to the expenses incurred by employees for services relating to their children's education – such as books, school fees, nursery schools, babysitters – differentiated by age group and up to the age of eighteen. To encourage the diffusion of a new approach on the topic of work-life balance, without precluding professional growth, A2A has defined awareness courses aimed at management and new parents, which are added to the internal dissemination activities already underway on fertility and procreation, on the medical-psychological implications in motherhood/fatherhood journeys, on the importance of making conscious choices. With this initiative the Group promotes a new vision of active social commitment on the part of companies with the aim of concretely contributing to the well-being of people and the sustainable growth of the country also by combating the demographic winter”.
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