Family Care: More leave entitlements in new employment system

National employment standards are an important feature of the new workplace relations system replacing Work Choices. Ten minimum working conditions will apply to all employees under the federal system from the beginning of next year.

The standards include a number of entitlements to help workers better accommodate their family responsibilities. They will include a right to 12 months unpaid parental leave, including birth-related and adoption-related leave.

There will also be a right to paid and unpaid carer’s leave and compassionate leave, and an obligation on employers to take an employee’s family responsibilities into account when requiring them to work overtime.

There is also a right to request flexible working arrangements for the care of a child who is under school age or has a disability.

The standards recognise these rights for both men and women.

Note: Contact Mullane & Lindsay family lawyers for further information on work conditions.