REA Group has launched its own standpoint on paid parental leave in the Aussie technology industry, allotting six months’ paid parental leave for primary caregivers and three months of paid leave for secondary carers/partners.
“Becoming a parent is incredibly exciting and we want our people to enjoy the experience without worrying about how to combine work and family,” said Tracey Fellows, REA Group CEO.
“By providing six months’ paid leave to our employees who are primary carers, and three months paid leave for secondary carers, we’re giving our people financial security to take the time they need with their families.
“People are at the heart of everything we do and we are very proud to be one of the first Australian technology companies to offer this kind of benefit to our employees,” Fellows added.
To ensure employees’ super isn’t impacted as a result of taking parental leave, REA Group will pay superannuation for the entire period of leave, paid and unpaid, for up to 12 months.
REA Group will also make the transition back to work easier for primary carers with reduced hours (75 per cent of agreed work hours) at full pay for the first four weeks after returning from parental leave.
The Group’s commitment to being a leading employer was the driving force behind the new parental leave offer according to Barb Hyman, REA Group’s executive general manager, people and culture.
“We want to show leadership across every facet of our business and this includes how we care for our employees when they become parents. A high proportion of our people are millennials and each year over 10 per cent of our Australian workforce take parental leave,” Hyman said.
“By launching what we believe to be one of Australia’s most progressive parental leave policies, we’re supporting our employees to live their best lives.”
Highlights of the REA Group Parental Leave offer include:
- Six months leave at full pay for the primary carer (20 weeks paid at commencement of leave; six weeks paid on return to work)
- three months paid leave for the secondary carer (six weeks at full pay, six weeks at half pay)
- Available to all permanent employees after six months’ continuous service
- Superannuation paid for entire period of leave (paid and unpaid) up to 12 months
- Flexible return to work for primary carers for four weeks (75 per cent of agreed work hours) at full pay.
