workplace info baby, it’s complicate: parental leave
TRANSCRIPT
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PARENTAL LEAVE What you should know
A guide to how parental leave works and new changes to the Fair Work Amendment Act 2014
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When can employees take parental leave?
• They give birth. • Their spouse or de facto
partner gives birth. • They adopt a child <16
years of age.
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How much leave can they take?
• They’re entitled to 12 months of unpaid parental leave.
• They can also request an additional 12 months of leave.
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What if they’re adopting?
• They’re also entitled to two days unpaid pre-adoption leave to attend relevant interviews or exams, but…
• Not if you tell them to
take another type of leave (e.g., paid annual leave).
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Who’s eligible for parental leave?
All employees in Australia who have: • worked for their employer >12
months: − before the birth date (if pregnant)− before the adoption date, or− when the leave starts (if taken after
another person cares for the child or takes parental leave)
• responsibility for the care of a
child.
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What if they’re casuals?
Casual employees need to have: • been working for their
employer regularly/ systematically >12 months
• a reasonable expectation of
continuing regularly/ systematically (had it not been for the birth or adoption of a child).
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What if they have another child?
• They don't have to work for another 12 months before taking another period of parental leave.
• However, if at a new
employer, they need to work there >12 months before taking parental leave.
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Exceptions and sources
• Different arrangements apply when a transfer of business occurs. See Employee entitlements on a transfer of business for more information.
• Source reference: Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) sections 67 - 70, 76 and 85
(Preceding information adapted from Fair Work Ombudsman)
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Can a parental leave period be changed?
• Employee may extend parental leave, but…
• They need to give > 4 weeks written notice before the end of the original leave period.
• The notice must specify the end date for the leave.
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Extensions to parental leave
• Only one extension allowed
• Extensions can be made by agreement < 24 months.
• Employee must have available period of unpaid parental leave of 12 months (minus concurrent, special maternity, paid no safe job or extended unpaid leave).
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Reducing parental leave
If you agree, an employee who has already started parental leave may reduce the period of unpaid leave he or she takes.
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Recent changes – Fair Work Amendment Act 2014• Employers can only refuse
a request for extension of unpaid parental leave if employee is given reasonable opportunity to discuss the request.
• Amendment took effect 27 November 2015
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How is this different from previous law?
• You may refuse request for extension on reasonable business grounds by notifying the employee in writing and providing reasons for your decision.
• You need to give employee reasonable opportunity to discuss the request, in addition to existing requirements.