Rio Tinto to provide 18 weeks paid leave for all new parents and carers
While the Australian Government currently only provides two weeks pay at the minimum wage for fathers and partners, the mining giant is about to overhaul its paid parental scheme. See the full details.
Gladstone
Don't miss out on the headlines from Gladstone. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Thousands of employees will be incentivised to spend longer with their newborn as one mining giant, and major Central Queensland employer, overhauls its parental leave scheme.
Rio Tinto, which employs more than 1700 people at its Gladstone sites, with 740 at the Yarwun Alumina Refinery, and about 1000 at Boyne Smelters, informed employees Friday morning that from June this year employees will be eligible for 18 weeks paid parental leave regardless of their gender or status as primary or secondary carer.
The progressive policy change seeks to recognise the importance of flexible and shared parenting responsibilities.
The mining giant, which has multiple operations in Gladstone — including Rio Tinto Yarwun, Boyne Smelters Limited and QAL — has also committed to paying full pension contributions during periods of both unpaid and reduced-pay parental leave.
Rio Tinto Chief Executive Australia Kellie Parker said the move was a commitment to a more inclusive, fulfilling and diverse workplace.
“Every parenting situation is different, and these changes are designed to provide greater flexibility to our employees to meet their families’ needs, regardless of gender or parental situation, as well as improving employee and family wellbeing,” Ms Parker said.
Currently, secondary carers are only eligible for two weeks of ‘dad and partner pay’ from the Australian Government, paid at the national minimum wage.
The Australian Government does provides parental leave for the primary parent a maximum of 18 weeks, but also at the minimum wage.
Effective from June 13, any employee who becomes a parent, including through adoption or surrogacy is eligible for the 18 week scheme at any time in the first two years of birth or adoption.
In the circumstance that both parents work for Rio Tinto, they are both eligible for the full 18 weeks and to utilise it simultaneously.
Employees will also be entitled to up 52 weeks unpaid leave, including their paid leave period.
More Coverage
Originally published as Rio Tinto to provide 18 weeks paid leave for all new parents and carers
The Palaszczuk supporters who have abandoned Steven Miles
An exclusive Courier-Mail poll reveals many of the voters who helped an Annastacia Palaszczuk-led Labor secure victory at the last state election have returned to the LNP.
Drunk stalker smears his blood over girlfriend’s face, threatens to kill her
A desperate woman was so terrified of her abusive stalker boyfriend harassing her for money that she paid him simply so he would “leave her alone”.
Who won week three? Watch most BRUTAL Voter Verdict yet
The Courier-Mail’s Voter Verdict have weighed in on the third week of the election campaign with a brutal assessment of both leaders. But who won the week?
Premier vows to open 10 new police beats despite 42 closing
Steven Miles will attempt to open 10 new police beats if elected, despite 42 beats closing since Labor has been in power, something the Premier says was a police service decision.
‘I’ll run over them’: Driver’s disturbing threat about neighbour’s kids
An ongoing dispute boiled over when a Central Queensland driver threatened to run over a neighbour’s children.
Trapped victim: work chat flares into fists flying in office
A father of three who did not like the feedback a colleague was giving him about his work ethic and how he handled instructions in the workplace turned on the man.