Changes to the Paid Parental Leave Scheme
The 2015 Federal Budget proposed some big changes to the Government's Paid Parental Leave Scheme. While the changes haven’t been passed yet, it is predicted that they will apply from 1 July 2016 and affect both employees and employers. Despite this, few are aware of the potential impact of these amendments to the scheme. This week on YOU LEGAL TV, I'm excited to discuss what the changes mean for you - whether you are an employee or an employer, and what you can do to best prepare for the new regime.
See below for the complete transcript of this episode -
The 2015 budget proposed changes to the existing paid parental leave scheme to prevent eligible employees from double dipping. Which means having paid leave benefits from both their employer and the government. As an employee, you should know that this legislation has still not been passed by the government.
So, how does this affect you as an employer or an employee? At the moment, employees are entitled to claim the 18-week payment from the government as well as any payment that they receive from their employer. As an employee, you may wish to consider whether or not your existing scheme or previously negotiated leave entitlements are appropriate for you in circumstances where you may not be eligible anymore for the government payment.
As an employer, you don't need to do anything. Your existing arrangements with staff will apply, and, of course, you should remember that having an attractive paid parental leave scheme can help you attract and retain quality staff as well as foster an excellent workplace culture.
If you have any questions about the paid parental leave scheme or any other commercial matters, please give me a call or shoot me an email. We look forward to hearing from you at You Legal and seeing you on future episodes of You Legal TV.
What Should I Do Next?
Contact us if you would like further legal advice on the Paid Parental Leave Scheme. Our lawyers at You Legal will be happy to assist you in any way we can.
* This blog is for general guidance only. Legal advice should be sought before taking action regarding any specific issues.