EOWA's Paid Maternity Survey Report, released today, shows that a growing number of organisations are introducing paid maternity leave (PML) as a cost-effective means of retaining valued staff.

Key findings include: the increase in the provision of PML from 23% in 2001 to 41% in 2004, and the increase in the percentage of organisations extending the duration of PML. Also, organisations that provide PML have an 11% higher retention rate of women taking maternity leave.
View EOWA's Paid Maternity Leave Survey Full Report...
 

Offering paid maternity leave makes good business sense. NRMA was able to increase their parental leave return from 32% to 85% whilst Westpac introduced paid maternity leave and lifted their return to work rate by 30%, which saved the company $6 million. EOWA’s website provides a wealth of information on paid maternity leave, including government fact sheets, paid parental leave survey results and the policies used by leading practice organisations.
To access this information click here...
 

Federal workplace relations legislation entitles parents up to a total of 52 weeks unpaid leave on a shared basis to care for their newborn or newly adopted child. Following the August 2005 decision of the AIRC, Federal award workers have the right to request simultaneous unpaid parental leave up to eight weeks, unpaid parental leave up to 104 weeks and to return to work on a part-time basis until the child reaches school age.
View EOWA's Paid Maternity Fact Sheet...