Unions push for 10 days of paid reproductive leave

Giving workers time off for reproductive and other health-related purposes makes “strong economic sense”, unions are arguing.

The introduction of 10 days of paid reproductive health leave will benefit the millions of Australians forced to use sick leave or take unpaid days to manage related health conditions, according to the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU).

The proposal, published late last week, was submitted to the federal parliamentary inquiry into the operation and adequacy of National Employment Standards (NES) under the Fair Work Act.

It came on the heels of collective union arguments for an increase from four to five weeks of annual leave – in response to the same House of Representatives standing committee on employment, workplace relations, skills and training. It would, according to the ACTU, be the first increase to minimum standards in roughly 50 years.

Employer unions have also made arguments as part of the inquiry – with the Housing Industry Association (HIA) taking issue with several proposed reforms as part of the NES Inquiry, claiming it would negatively affect the operational model of residential building.

Regarding reproductive leave, the proposal outlined that 10 days of paid leave would allow workers to manage a range of related health issues, such as prostate cancer screening, vasectomy recovery, in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) and fertility treatment, miscarriage, menstrual pain, menopause, and conditions such as endometriosis.

While union-negotiated collective agreements have secured some workers’ reproductive health leave, there is no dedicated Australia-wide legislation for these needs.

“No Australian should have to choose between their health and their pay,” according to ACTU assistant secretary Liam O’Brien.

Latest data shows one in six Australian couples currently deal with fertility issues. Further, one in six men is affected by prostate cancer, and one in seven women lives with endometriosis.

O’Brien purported: “Early intervention saves lives.”

“Right now, Australians are delaying screenings, pushing through pain, and working while unwell because they can’t afford to run down their leave balance. This only creates more serious health problems down the track and keeps people away from work longer.”

Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre modelling found that the Australian economy loses more than $21.3 billion a year through employee absences and reduced productivity through a lack of reproductive health leave.

“We need a leave policy to reflect this burden,” according to Kate Marshall, Health Services Union (HSU) national senior assistant secretary.

She continued: “We know women are disproportionately affected by a lack of reproductive health leave. A study of 20,000 workers found 90 per cent of working women experience debilitating period pain and 40 per cent were forced to take days off to cope with that.”

Whether through taking precious annual or sick leave, taking leave without pay or enduring it at work, according to Marshall, “this has a massive impact on the economy and the mental wellbeing of employees.”

Operations director at ADP Australia, Judy Barnett, highlighted the broader shift in employee conception of work and wellbeing, stating: “Across Australia we’re seeing organisations focus more on flexibility, wellbeing days and additional leave options as ways to attract and retain talent.”

“For many employers, the conversation isn’t just about statutory leave, it’s about how workplace benefits evolve to meet changing expectations.”

She continued: “If leave entitlements were to change, employers would also need to review how leave is managed to ensure they remain aligned with workplace regulations. Even relatively small adjustments to leave requirements can have flow-on effects for workforce planning and administration, particularly for organisations managing large or distributed teams.”

In its submission, the HSU also highlighted findings from the Bankwest Curtin University study, which estimated the cost of a 12-day reproductive health leave policy to be $3.6 billion – however, not only would it save $1.88 billion for Australian businesses, but it would also reportedly lift employee loyalty and mental health.

Marshall highlighted: “This research proves it makes economic sense to give workers, especially women who represent half the population, some dignity and agency through a reproductive leave policy.”

O’Brien concluded: “The evidence is clear: giving people paid time off to manage their health improves long-term wellbeing and lifts productivity.”