You won't believe how much parental leave Bundy Rum staff get

BUNDABERG Rum Distillery employees are set to get some of the best parental leave conditions in the country.

Jodi McLeod who will be one of the first employees to benefit from the new policy is a Marketing Manager for our brands and was the Marketing Manager for Bundaberg Rum when she went on parental leave with her first child. Picture: HANNA LASSEN

THE Bundaberg Rum Distillery is about to set the bar for parental leave across the country.

The distillery's parent company, Diageo, has announced mothers and fathers to be will be able to take six months leave with full pay.

The policy will also be rolled out worldwide through Diageo businesses in countries such as North America, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, Russia, Colombia, Venezuela, and Australia.

Former Bundaberg Rum marketing manager Jodi McLeod will be one of the first Australian Diageo employees to benefit from the new policy.  

"I'm the primary breadwinner in our marriage so me going on maternity leave has a significant financial impact on our family and to be honest the amount of mat leave we get dictates the amount of time I can be home with my kids," she said.   

"This (the new policy) means I can stay home for longer which is really important.   

"It's really hard coming back to work within that first six months and anyone who's had children can talk to that and it just gives you that little bit more freedom to take the time out that you need."   

She said it was great to see both men and women were included in the new parental leave conditions. 

Diageo Australia managing director David Smith said they are moving the conversation from 'women having children' to 'people raising families'.

"This is about removing barriers to career progression and ensuring talent is retained and nurtured," he said.

"If these sorts of policies are more widely adopted in society, it can be a real game changer for shared responsibilities, getting women who want to back into work earlier, and giving men more time to enjoy the experience of being a new parent."

The new policy will come into effect from July 1.

Originally published as You won't believe how much parental leave Bundy Rum staff get