Parental leave is an employee benefit that can improve workplace gender equality.
Parental leave policies are designed to support and protect working parents around the time of childbirth or adoption of a child and when children are young. The availability of paid parental leave for each parent fosters a more equal division of unpaid care and paid work, improving the family work-life balance.
According to 2023-24 WGEA data, 68% of employers offer access to paid parental leave (either to both women and men or to women only), in addition to the government scheme. In Australia, some organisations are moving towards universally available parental leave policies, offering equal parental leave for all parents, irrespective of gender. Australia’s combined approach to parental leave provides some flexibility about when leave can be used.
However, the share of men using parental leave remains low. Men account for 17% of all primary carer leave taken
WGEA parental leave resources for employers
All new parents, including fathers, deserve the right to take time off work to care for their young children. Find out how you can support fathers in your workplace.
WGEA has created a guide to help employers advance paid parental leave and flexibility arrangements in the workplace.
Research
This paper explores the link between the unequal distribution of caring work between women and men and the unequal labour market outcomes.
Guide
This guide assists employers to develop a leading-practice parental leave policy. It is aimed at encouraging more employers to create their own paid parental leave schemes.
Guide
This leading practice guide provides evidence based recommendations for creating more equitable parental leave policies.
What do men have to say about parental leave and wellbeing?
External resources
This factsheet from the National Women's Law centre provides a useful overview of research that demonstrates a positive business impact associated with workplace flexibility.