Recent changes to the NES in relation to parental leave

The National Employment Standards (NES) has recently been updated to improve unpaid parental leave for parents, including for parents of stillborn babies, infant deaths and premature births.

The key changes are two-fold:

1. Eligible employees can now take up to 30 days of flexible unpaid parental leave in the two years following birth or adoption. Leave can be taken as:
   • Single continuous period of one or more days; or
   • Separate periods of one or more days each.
     ** Note that these 30 days are to come out of the employee’s entitlement to 12 months of unpaid parental leave.
2. Employees who have experienced the trauma of stillbirths, infant deaths and premature births will now have access to improved unpaid parental leave entitlements.

The entitlements are available to full time, part time and casual employees.

How we can help

For more information on what this might mean for your organisation or how to apply it practically, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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