A huge number of workers are set to benefit from the “primary” and “secondary” carer labels being dumped from their leave policy after the NSW Government announced mothers and fathers across the public sector will receive 14 weeks of paid parental leave.
As the largest employers in NSW, the move is significant in reframing paid parental leave for a segment of the state’s working population that covers everyone from teachers to police officers, paramedics and other public sector workers. It will see mums and dads receiving the 14 weeks of paid leave on bringing a new child into their family, time that can be used at any point two years after the birth, adoption, surrogacy or permanent out-of-home placement of their child.
The leave scheme is backdated to come into effect on the 1st October 2022, and follows other NSW Government initiatives including the doubling of paid domestic and family violence leave to 20 days, announced last month.
Overall, it promotes more shared care at home and may kickstart industries into more strongly considering the role of men lengthy stints of paid parental leave — which has typically been centred around knowledge workers. It also includes added incentives the government is using to promote shared care – including two weeks of “bonus leave”.
Bronnie Taylor is the Minister for Women in the Perrottet Government and said this latest move to promote shared parental leave will support women’s economic opportunity and career progression.
“Paid parental leave created with gender equality at its core will contribute to increased participation in the workforce, improved economic opportunities and greater financial well-being for women,” she said in the statement announcing the move.
In addition, the public sector will also be able to access five days’ fertility leave, if undergoing fertility treatment.
The “bonus leave” is given where public sectors can take up to 16 weeks’ of paid leave if they can prove more equally shared responsibilities.