South32 lifts bar on parental leave

Perth-based mining company South32 has implemented new leave provisions that exceed those of most other employers, offering six months’ parental leave on full pay and up to 10 days of paid domestic violence leave.

A handful of other businesses in Australia, including REA Group, IKEA and Adobe, also offer 26 weeks’ paid parental leave, but 12 to 18 weeks is more common in the private sector.

The Australian government has a policy offering 18 weeks of paid parental leave, with the rate of pay tied to the prevailing minimum wage, currently $695 per week before tax.

South32’s new policies are restricted initially to its permanent employees in Australia.

They can take up to six months of parental leave at full pay or 12 months’ leave at half pay, an increase from 18 weeks at full pay.

In addition, secondary caregivers’ leave has increased from one week to four weeks at full pay.

Chief executive Graham Kerr said the company had also taken a strong stance against all forms of violence and sexual harassment.

“In line with this we’ve implemented a new initiative focused on supporting staff who are victims of domestic violence and offer a range of support options including paid leave, temporary accommodation and payment towards legal advice,” he said.

“We’ve also implemented a new sexual harassment program, reinforcing our zero-tolerance approach to all forms of intimidation, harassment and discrimination.”

The domestic violence policy includes an additional 10 paid days of leave per year, which can be taken for counselling, medical appointments, legal proceedings and other services.

Woodside Petroleum and Fortescue Metals Group both offer paid parental leave for up to 16 weeks for the primary caregiver, and up to two weeks for the secondary caregiver.

Both companies highlight the flexible options for returning employees.

These include job share, part time and flexible start and finish times at Fortescue.

The iron ore miner said these applied not just to its office-based workers but also those on shift work or working from its operating sites on a fly in, fly out roster.

It also hosts a childcare centre in Perth that operates 24-7.

A Woodside spokesperson said the company had an excellent return-to-work success rate following parental leave of more than 90 per cent.

“We attribute this in part to the broad range of flexible working arrangements we offer employees to manage family priorities and responsibilities,” the spokesperson said.