The term "parental leave"
includes maternity, paternity and adoption leave. This has been
included as a core minimum condition of the Australian Pay and
Conditions Statndards
It is unpaid leave of up
to a maximum of 12 months that a woman and/or her spouse can access between them on
the birth or adoption of a child.
It is available after
twelve months
continuous employment with the current employer. An employee is also
entitled to work part time in specified circumstances before or after
the child's birth or adoption.
After parental leave the
employee has a
right to return to the same job or an equivalent one in status and pay.
An employee must give notice of taking parental leave, and of your
return.
Eligible casual employees
are entitled to parental leave. An "eligible casual" is one who has
been:
(a) employed by an
employer on a regular and systematic basis for several periods of
employment or on a regular and systematic basis for an ongoing period
of employment during at least 12 months; and
(b) who has but for the
pregnancy or the decision to adopt, a reasonable expectation of ongoing
employment.
In some industries, mainly
in the public sector, paid maternity leave is available. There is
currently a push to expand paid maternity leave as Australia is, along
with the United States, one of the few countries which does not have
this right.
For a small fee - as
little as $44 - Working Today can help you to
understand your specific situation. Use our online response form,
or write us a letter at PO Box
207 Fitzroy Victoria 3065.
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