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Employer-paid Maternity Leave in Australia - A comparison of Uptake and Duration in 2005 and 2010

Author

Listed:
  • Gillian Whitehouse

    (The University of Queensland)

  • elinda Hewitt

    (The University of Queensland)

  • Bill Martin

    (The University of Queensland)

  • Marian Baird

    (University of Sydney)

Abstract

While the implementation of Australia’s Paid Parental Leave (PPL) scheme in January 2011 is expected to extend access to paid parental leave significantly, the program commenced in the context of regularly reported increases in the prevalence of employer-paid parental leave. The aims of this paper are to identify and explain changes in mothers’ use of employer-paid maternity leave over the five years prior to PPL. Our data come from broadly similar surveys conducted in 2005 and 2010. They show increasing uptake and duration of employer-paid maternity leave over this period, but marked and persistent inequalities in patterns of usage. We argue that inequalities are unsurprising in association with employer-provided entitlements, and that they will not necessarily be ameliorated with ongoing expansion of employer-paid provisions. Given its importance in the Australian context, employer-paid parental leave will need to be taken into account in assessing the impact of any government-initiated paid parental leave scheme.

Suggested Citation

  • Gillian Whitehouse & elinda Hewitt & Bill Martin & Marian Baird, 2013. "Employer-paid Maternity Leave in Australia - A comparison of Uptake and Duration in 2005 and 2010," Australian Journal of Labour Economics (AJLE), Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC), Curtin Business School, vol. 16(3), pages 311-327.
    • Handle: RePEc:ozl:journl:v:16:y:2013:i:3:p:311-327
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Budd, John W. & Mumford, Karen A., 2005. "Family-Friendly Work Practices in Britain: Availability and Perceived Accessibility," IZA Discussion Papers 1662, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Baird, M & Frino, B & Williamson, S, 2009. "Paid Maternity and Paternity Leave and the Emergence of 'Equality Bargaining' in Australia: an Analysis of Enterprise Agreements, 2003-2007," Australian Bulletin of Labour, National Institute of Labour Studies, vol. 35(4), pages 671-691.
    3. John M. Evans, 2001. "Firms' Contribution to the Reconciliation between Work and Family Life," OECD Labour Market and Social Policy Occasional Papers 48, OECD Publishing.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hewitt, Belinda & Strazdins, Lyndall & Martin, Bill, 2017. "The benefits of paid maternity leave for mothers' post-partum health and wellbeing: Evidence from an Australian evaluation," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 97-105.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J83 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Workers' Rights
    • J88 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Public Policy
    • J81 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Working Conditions

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