Deloitte reveals policy to allow staff to spread parental leave

New parents at one of Australia’s leading companies will be able to take leave in a new way to raise their young children under a “game changer” package for both mums and dads.

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New parents at one of Australia’s leading companies will be able to take leave over three years to raise their young children under a “game changer” package for both mums and dads.

In addition to the 18 weeks paid leave already offered to all parents, Deloitte has unveiled a new policy giving staff the option to spread their leave over 36 months.

The package also includes continuing superannuation payments during unpaid leave up to 34 weeks and removing the titles of maternity and paternity leave.

With more than 8000 employees nationwide, Deloitte chief executive officer Richard Deutsch said the company wanted equality in the workplace and greater flexibility for parents to suit their needs.

Deloitte CEO Richard Deutsch brought in the new policy to give parents flexibility and more equality in the workplace.

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“It’s the right thing to do,” Mr Deutsch said of the changes. “I think that they are game changers.

“We’re trying to make a great environment here but we’re also trying to shape best practice in Australia and if companies li ke Deloitte can help push these things in the right direction, then basically the business community and society will better off.”

Mr Deutsch said the new three-year measure recognised parenthood wasn’t just important during the first year of a child’s life.

“The previous policy we had was 12 months for paid parental leave and I think when you look at that moment in time it’s incredibly special, but so is that three-year journey in the formation of your child,” he said.

Mums and dads will be given the option to spread their leave over 36 months.

Under the 36-month policy, employees can take their leave in three different ways: one or two blocks of time or part time on a weekly basis.

Workplace Gender Equality Agency executive manager Kate Lee said Deloitte’s parental leave measures was at the “leading edge”.

“The thing that’s really terrific is it’s a policy that really reflects the realities of balancing work and family for both parents in the first few years of a child’s life,” Ms Lee said.

“The engaging of men in this policy and recognising them as an equal parent in the early stage is a really great initiative.”

Other companies with standout parental arrangements include Medibank, which allows employees to take their 14 weeks leave over two years, and PricewaterhouseCoopers last year announced a new policy giving staff greater flexibility in taking their leave.

Ms Lee said more than 50 per cent of the private-sector companies reporting to the agency provided no paid parental leave, instead relying on the federal government’s 18-week parental leave scheme paying the minimum wage of about $719 each week before tax.

Deloitte consulting director Lucy Buchanan and her partner Matt Morton, who are expecting their first child, said the new policy will change how parental leave is viewed. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Deloitte insurance manager Tafadzwa Mudarikwa, pictured with his son Unathi, said the policy gives people a chance to see what it’s about. Picture: Richard Wearne

“Obviously the Deloitte policy is not feasible for an organisation that is currently offering nothing but what would be good to see is a movement of those employers offering no leave to offering some leave,” she said.

Deloitte consulting director Lucy Buchanan, who is four months pregnant with her first child, said the policy put men and women on equal footing.

“When I come back to the firm it will be with more and more men who have been through that experience in the same way,” Ms Buchanan said.

“I think that’s really going to start to change how parental leave is viewed more broadly.”

Deloitte insurance manager Tafadzwa Mudarikwa took three months off to care for his seven-month-old son, Unathi.

“So often for the dads it’s so easy to take a backseat,” he said.

“This policy gives you a chance, as a dad, to actually see what it’s all about.”

Originally published as Deloitte reveals policy to allow staff to spread parental leave