Twelve months free AOP membership for parental leave

Members of the Association of Optometrists (AOP) on maternity, paternity and adoption leave will receive up to 12 months free membership, thanks to a new membership grade.

Available from January 1 2017, the new Parental Leave grade is designed to help members overcome the challenges often faced following parental leave and support them in their return to work.

‘Many people can find parental leave an expensive time, with more pressures on finances coupled with a drop in salary, and we want to take the pressure off through our payment freeze,’ said AOP chief executive Henrietta Alderman.

‘It is in tune with our ethos to make sure members are fully supported at every stage of their career and vital that the mechanisms are in place to help members return confidently and ensure that talent in the sector is retained.’