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A case study of regulatory confusion: Paid parental leave and public servants

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  • Sue Williamson

    (UNSW Canberra, Australia)

Abstract

Australian policy on paid parental leave (PPL) has been highly controversial in recent years. While a universal PPL scheme become operative in 2011 under the Australian Labor Party, alternative policies continued to be proposed by the leader of the Liberal Party. These ranged from an expanded, comparatively generous PPL scheme, to one which would maintain the status quo, to a scheme with lesser provisions than are currently available. This article examines the PPL policy which would have provided the most generous entitlements to employees, and considers how public servants may have fared had it been introduced. The proposal would have meant that public servants would no longer have been able to access PPL provisions in their industrial instruments, but would only have been entitled to the legislated provisions. This article assesses whether public servants may have gained or lost under such a change, and then considers the broader issue of the most appropriate avenues to regulate public sector employment conditions. While a rare opportunity for enhanced PPL has been lost, this may be the best outcome in ensuring that unions can continue to bargain collectively for this important provision and ongoing improvements to it.

Suggested Citation

  • Sue Williamson, 2015. "A case study of regulatory confusion: Paid parental leave and public servants," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 26(3), pages 430-447, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecolab:v:26:y:2015:i:3:p:430-447
    DOI: 10.1177/1035304615597838
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. 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.
    2. Marian Baird & John Murray, 2014. "Collective bargaining for paid parental leave in Australia 2005–2010: A complex context effect," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 25(1), pages 47-62, March.
    3. Productivity Commission, 2009. "Paid Parental Leave: Support for Parents with Newborn Children," Inquiry Reports, Productivity Commission, Government of Australia, number 47.
    4. Abigail Gregory & Susan Milner, 2009. "Trade Unions and Work‐life Balance: Changing Times in France and the UK?," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 47(1), pages 122-146, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Barbara Pocock, 2016. "Holding up half the sky? Women at work in the 21st century," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 27(2), pages 147-163, June.
    2. Sue Williamson & Rae Cooper & Marian Baird, 2015. "Job-sharing among teachers: Positive, negative (and unintended) consequences," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 26(3), pages 448-464, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Collective bargaining; equality bargaining; gender equality; paid maternity leave; paid parental leave; public sector employment; working conditions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J51 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Trade Unions: Objectives, Structure, and Effects
    • J58 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Public Policy
    • J81 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Working Conditions

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