Parental Leave
Why we do what we do: the Parental Leave Equality campaign 2018
As we look back on this busy and jam-packed year, we’re feeling a little proud of Parents At Work. Much of our effort this year has been campaigning to get the message of #ParentalLeaveEquality out there – and we know from our work with employers that we have paved the way for introducing better…
Read MoreDads care too – recognising the rights and needs of fathers as carers
It’s 70 years today since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – it’s a day to reflect, as a global community, that we must continue to strive for the advancement of human rights for all. This year, Parents At Work has been advocating for #ParentalLeaveEquality. It’s about equally supporting both mothers and fathers to enable…
Read MoreAchieving Parental Leave Equality Sydney: Roundtable Discussion Report
‘Despite the rapid rate in which mothers have returned to the workforce over the past 10 – 20 years, there has been almost zero shift in the percentage of men taking up parental leave or opting to stay at home as the primary carer.’ – Excerpt from Roundtable Discussion Report The first national roundtable…
Read MoreNEWS TODAY: What’s the link between ‘shared parental leave’ and ‘gender equality’? The UK Government thinks it’s big and today our Government announced a step in the right direction for Australian families
This month, Elysia McCaffrey, the Deputy Head of the UK Government Equalities Office is in Australia touring with Libby Lyon’s Director of Australia’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency. Together they are reflecting on the progress made in Australia over the past five years when it comes to the gender pay gap, and how this compares to what…
Read MoreThe bad news that motivates us even more: parental leave progress stalled
WGEA have just released their latest Gender Equality Scorecard for 2017-2018, and it’s not great news – especially for parental leave equality. As we look back on five years of equality progress in Australia, there are some wins and there are definitely some losses. “There are a few problem areas. Access to parental leave has…
Read MoreMedibank Making History: Re-writing Parental Leave Policy – Podcast
Medibank made history earlier this year when they rewrote the rulebook, scrapping ‘primary’ and ‘secondary’ carer labels and adopting a fair approach to Parental Leave. In this podcast, Medibank’s Kylie Bishop (Group Executive, People & Culture) is interviewed by the Parents At Work CEO, Emma Walsh. This podcast is sure to inspire other HR…
Read MoreAlternatives to Paid Parental Leave that make you an Employer of Choice to industry top talent
Parents At Work recently launched Advancing Parental Leave Equality and Introducing Shared Care in Australia: the business case for action – a whitepaper developed alongside WGEA’s recently launched Best Practice Employer Guide: Developing a Leading Practice Parental Leave Policy. Many small businesses believe that Paid Parental Leave and other family-friendly policies are too far out…
Read MoreParental Leave around the globe – what we can learn from it?
Alongside the recent launch of the WGEA’s Best Practice Guide – Developing a Leading Practice Parental Leave Policy, Parents At Work introduced a new whitepaper titled Advancing Parental Leave Equality and Introducing Shared Care in Australia: the business case for action. This whitepaper provides important insights into the current Parental Leave situation into Australia and…
Read MoreWhy ‘shared care’ is good for your business
“A leading practice parental leave policy allows women and men to both identify as the primary carer. Leading policies will reduce employee turn over … and boost employee engagement and productivity. Every time someone leaves your organisation, it costs you money. [Parental leave equality] is a smart solution to this.” Libby Lyons, Director of Workplace…
Read MoreShowing Australian companies how it’s done: WGEA release Best Practice Guide for Parental Leave Policies
“For many employees, combining work with caring responsibilities is a part of everyday life. In 2018, families with two working parents are now more common than the more traditional family structure where only one parent participates in paid employment. Despite the changing structure of family life, women are still far more likely to identify as the ‘primary…
Read More