Family & Equity

We all know how hard it is to balance work and family life. The SDA is working hard to make sure that clauses’ requiring employers to have regard for their employees’ family responsibilities are included in all new Enterprise Agreements.

Entitlements like parental leave ensures that parents can take time away from work to care for their newborn or newly adopted child.

Additionally, for many years the SDA has provided specialist support to deal with problems commonly experienced by working-women.

This section provides some information on:

  • Equity & Family Issues
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Parental Leave

 

 

Equity & Family Issues

We all know how difficult it can be to balance work and life. We also know how hard it is to make sure you're given a fair go.

Women make up over 60% of the Union's membership, and these areas are of particular concern to them.

They are also areas where the SDA can help.

Specialist Advice

For many years the SDA has provided specialist backup and support to deal with the problems commonly experienced by working women.

Key areas where the SDA can provide specialist advice include:

  • Concerns about equal opportunity, sexual harassment, parental and maternity leave, aged care, and discrimination against pregnant women in the workforce
  • What to do if you have been financially disadvantaged due to an unfair dismissal, in particular where the unfair dismissal concerns issues of discrimination or sexual harassment
  • What your rights are in regard to family leave, maternity leave, rosters and other entitlements.

In addition, the SDA is working hard to make sure that clauses requiring employers to have regard for their employees' family responsibilities are included in all new Enterprise Agreements.

Over the years, we have also fought hard for and achieved improvements to many of the entitlements that make balancing work and family easier, including parental leave, family leave and pre-natal leave - entitlements that are now commonly included in Enterprise Agreements

The SDA includes these issues in Delegates training to ensure that all Delegates are aware of, and pay proper regard to, the concerns and problems particularly faced by women in the retail and fast food industries.

More Info

If you would like more information about equity issues or work and family balance, contact the SDA

 

 

Paid Parental Leave

The SDA has been arguing for the introduction of a Government-funded National Paid Parental Leave scheme for all parents over 30 years, which we finally achieved in January 2011 under the Australian Labor Government.

This is good news for parents because it provides increased financial security at a vulnerable time for families, thereby helping to ensure parents and babies have time to recover from birth and to bond.This is good news for parents because it provides increased financial security at a vulnerable time for families, thereby helping to ensure parents and babies have time to recover from birth and to bond.

Are You Eligible?

If you are pregnant, have recently given birth or adopted a child under 16 years you may be eligible for the Federal Governments Paid Parental Leave payment.

You do not need to be working full time to be eligible for this payment. You may meet the work test even if you:

Baby Bonus

You cannot receive the Governments' Paid Parental Leave pay and the baby Bonus for the same child. If you are eligible to receive the Paid Parental Leave pay, you must decide whether you will be better off financially receiving this payment or receiving other Government payments.

Most families will be better off receiving the Parental Leave pay rather than the Baby Bonus.

To help you choose the option which is best for you and your family you can:

  • Speak to a customer information representative art the Family Assistance Office in person
  • Call a customer information representative on  13 61 50
  • Use the online Paid Parental Leave Comparison Estimator which is available in the Families section of the Department of Human

Assistance From the SDA

If you are unsure of your leave entitlements, or you are having difficulties receiving your payments from your employer (where your employer is the paymaster), please contact the SDA.

Members can get a full copy of the Paid Parental Leave booklet by contacting the SDA.

The Paid Parental Leave information booklet contains information on:

  • Who is eligible
  • How much you can be paid
  • Talking with your employer
  • Working out when to start the Governments Parental Leave Payment
  • Talking to your partner
  • Applying for the Paid Parental Leave Payment
  • The application process
  • After the baby is born
  • Returning to work during the paid parental leave period
  • Dad and partner pay
  • Eligibility of the Governments Dad and Partner Pay

  • Claiming Dad and Partner Pay

     

 

Parental Leave

Parental leave ensures that parents can take time away from work to care for their newborn or newly adopted child, secure in the knowledge that they still have a job to return to.

Parental leave is available only under certain conditions, so it is important that you know your rights and responsibilities regarding parental leave.

The SDA works extremely hard, not only to maintain, but to improve, parental leave rights for our members.

What is Parental Leave?

Parental Leave

Is the term used to describe unpaid parental leave (which in the past was more commonly known as maternity, paternity and adoption leave), provided for employees in connection with the birth or adoption of a child. Parental leave provisions also recognise same-sex and de facto relationships.

Employer Paid Parental Leave

Refers to payments made by some employers to employees who qualify for a company's own Paid Parental Leave scheme. If your employer has such a scheme, it is important that you contact the SDA or your employer for further information, as each employer's scheme varies significantly.

Unpaid Parental Leave

Unpaid parental leave entitles an eligible employee, following the birth of an eligible child, to take leave to care for the child. This may be either parent and may change over the course of the parental leave period. However the leave must be continuous.

More Info

If you have any further questions, contact the SDA.