NAB makes paid parental leave more accessible

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Modern Australian family life is evolving with men showing a stronger desire to spend more time looking after their children, according to the NAB Work & Family Survey.

When dads were asked about spending more time with their children, on balance:
- 60 per cent said they would like to spend more time with them
- 45 per cent would like to play a greater role in caring for them, rather than working full-time
- 25 per cent of couples report sharing equal primary caring responsibility.

In response to changing family dynamics, NAB today announced it is making its 12-week paid parental leave entitlement more accessible to new dads and other non-birth parents.

Michaela Healey, NAB Group Executive, says while women still appear to be carrying a greater share of domestic responsibilities, the research challenges traditional gender stereotypes.

“Every family is different, but the presumption that mothers are exclusively looking after the children and running the household is clearly out-dated in the modern family.

“Parenting is not a women’s issue, it is a parenting issue. Everyone has the right to a challenging and rewarding career – and a key part of supporting women to realise their potential lies in enabling men on the domestic front.

“We need to take gender out of the equation when it comes to flexibility at work, by extending the same conditions to men and creating a culture where they feel they can take them up,” she said.

The NAB Work & Family Survey shows more than two-thirds of mothers still play the role of primary carer and perceptions between men and women about the division of domestic responsibilities differs strongly.

Australian couples with children spend an average of 30 hours per week on household chores, collectively:
 – Women feel they are doing 72% of household duties (in terms of time spent)
 – Men believe the time on household duties is split more closely to 50/50, including an equal share in terms of driving children and shopping for groceries
 – Men and women agree that men do more of the home maintenance and gardening

NAB employee Mike Seymour, dad to four month-old Arthur, plans to take paid primary carer’s leave when his wife Yas returns to work later this year.

“Yas’ parental leave will expire when Arthur is just over 10 months old. By staying home, I can share more of the parenting load and we won’t have to put him in to childcare until he turns one,” he said.

“It will be great to get some much-wanted time with Arthur, as well as help Yas transition back to work and resume her career.”

NAB employees can now take paid primary carer’s leave anytime within the first twelve months of a child’s life – previously only available to the primary carer for 12 weeks upon the birth or adoption of a new child (or 24 weeks at half pay).

See the full survey here: NAB Work & Family Survey – Part 1 (final)

Main Photo: Mike, Arthur and Yas Seymour (PIC: Tahnee Parsakia – PICTURESBYTAHNEE.COM)

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