At Stowe Family Law, inclusion isn’t a tick-box exercise — it’s shaped by the voices of our people.
In 2021, colleagues across the firm came together to form our Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (DIB) group, an employee-led network supported by sponsors from our Executive team. The aim was simple but powerful: to promote, celebrate and embed diversity, inclusion and belonging across Stowe.
One of the first initiatives to come from this group was the introduction of flexible bank holidays — a policy shaped directly by colleague insight and lived experience.
What are flexible bank holidays?
We recognise that our people celebrate a wide range of cultural, faith and religious events, and we actively encourage everyone at Stowe to bring their whole self to work.
Flexible bank holidays allow colleagues to exchange up to two traditional UK bank holidays for alternative days that are personally meaningful to them. This means employees can choose to work on a standard UK bank holiday and instead take time off for a cultural or religious celebration that matters to them.
Many UK bank holidays are historically linked to Christian festivals. While these dates may work well for some, they don’t reflect the diversity of beliefs and cultures within today’s workforce — particularly within family law. Flexible bank holidays help ensure everyone feels seen, respected and included.
What can flexible bank holidays be used for?
Flexible public holidays can be used for a wide range of religious and cultural observances, including (but not limited to):
Diwali, Vaisakhi, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Ramadan, Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, Passover, Maha Shivaratri, Holi, Purim, Chinese New Year, Yuan Tan and Mahayana celebrations.
Why flexible bank holidays matter
While this may seem like a small change, inclusive policies like flexible bank holidays have a real impact on how people feel at work. They signal respect, understanding and trust — and help create a workplace where everyone feels part of one team.
As Pooja Patel, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Lead, explains:
“Seeing the move towards flexible bank holidays was incredibly positive. It reflects the importance of inclusive practices and supports people in celebrating what matters to them.”
At Stowe, we believe that celebrating individuality while working together is how we build a stronger, more supportive firm — for our people and for the families we help every day.
