Aviva targets male staff over inappropriate behaviour

Aviva has taken new measures to combat sexism among staff and dismissed male employees where their behaviour has fallen short of expectations, its chief executive Amanda Blanc has told the Sexism in the City inquiry.

Appearing before MPs yesterday (13 December), Blanc said the insurance company has acted to ensure women do not feel they need to leave the organisation as a result of inappropriate behaviour at work, by making sure complaints are dealt with confidentially.

The Sexism in the City inquiry was launched earlier this year by the Treasury committee and aims to determine how harassment and misogyny in the financial services sector can be addressed.

MPs said they were “shocked” by the evidence the inquiry had received so far, which included examples of sexual assault, bullying, sexual harassment and a climate where perpetrators were able to act with impunity. In some cases, women have given up their careers in the sector.

Blanc, who is also the Treasury’s Women in Finance Champion, told MPs that there had been cases at Aviva where “the woman has stayed and the man has gone” after investigations into allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

She said she had been “inundated” with hundreds of messages from women in the financial services sector who wanted to share their experiences when she posted on LinkedIn about her appearance at the inquiry.

“Some of the stories were absolutely appalling, around unwanted advances…  being followed to hotel rooms…