From July 1, the paid parental leave period will increase from 22 weeks to 26 weeks. Photo / 123RF
COMMENT:
Parental leave entitlements for new and expecting parents will increase from 1 July this year.
The Government will bump up paid parental leave as legislative changes take effect from next month.
It is timely that employers update policies and procedures so that staff are aware of their new entitlements.
From July 1, the paid parental leave period will increase from 22 weeks to 26 weeks. Eligible expecting employees will be entitled to 26 weeks' paid parental leave to care for babies due or born from 1 July 2020.
Primary carers such as adoptive parents are entitled to 26 week's paid parental leave for children under the age of six placed in their care from 1 July 2020.
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More paid parental leave will support working families with newborns and young children by reducing financial stress and increasing time for bonding and breastfeeding.
'Keeping in touch days' allow employees to work limited hours for their employer, while receiving their paid parental leave entitlements from the Government.
From 1 July 2020, keeping in touch days will increase from 52 to 64 hours. Employees on parental leave will be able to work up to 64 hours without losing their entitlement to paid parental leave.
This change will help support workers stay in contact with their employer for longer while receiving paid parental leave. Employees can attend team days, training, and perform other work during keeping in touch days.
How will parental leave changes affect employees and employers?
The change to parental leave provisions will be welcomed by new and expecting Kiwi parents.
Employees are more likely to take 6 months' parental leave that is paid, giving employers greater certainty about the length of time to replace the role.
Many Kiwi employers face the challenge of finding cover for staff on parental leave. Employers may find it easier to replace the employee for a period of 26 weeks than 22 weeks.
Research suggests fewer primary carers return to the workforce following a longer parental leave. However, employers can attract staff back to work through effective policies like flexible working arrangements.
Offering flexible working arrangements and attractive return to work policies has proven successful for Vodafone.
The digital services employer tops up parental leave payments to an employee's full salary for 22 weeks.
Vodafone's phased return to work policy has proven popular with staff returning from parental leave. For their first six months after returning to work, staff are only required to work 30 hours per week but are paid full salary based on 40 hours per week.
Since this policy has been in place, 97% of Vodafone employees have returned to work following a period of parental leave.
While paid parental leave is fully tax-payer funded, employers should check how legislative changes affect additional entitlements under workplace policies.
For more information, see Julia Shallcrass' webinar 5 Key Changes to Parental Leave Entitlements - Webinar on 30 June.
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