Champions for Change launches new parental leave framework to strengthen gender equity in workplaces
- Champions for Change announces the introduction of its parental leave framework; setting out a new minimum policy standard for members
- The framework is the result of a multi-year workstream developed through extensive consultation across the Champions for Change network
Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa New Zealand: Champions for Change, a collective of more than 80 leading CEOs and Chairs anchored by Global Women, has today announced the introduction of its parental leave framework.
The Parental Leave framework establishes a minimum standard that all Champion organisations must meet in their parental leave policies and introduces a stretch journey for organisations to aspire to beyond compliance.
Its commitments span six key areas of parental leave policy that been shown to play an active role in creatable an equitable working environment for parents. They cover additional paid leave; partner leave; KiwiSaver contributions; flexible return; leave and wellbeing and parental leave transparency.
Developed over several years by the “Increasing Gender Diversity” workstream across the Champions for Change network, the initiative draws on the collective insights and experience of the 50+ member organisations. This mahi was led by workstream Executive Sponsors Antonia Watson, CEO of ANZ and Matt Prichard, Executive Chair KPMG.
Designed to be a best practice, scalable model, the framework enables organisations to tailor and implement policies according to their structure, while maintaining alignment with Champions for Change’s collective standards. This mandatory reporting requirement will join the existing 40/40/20 gender balance goal and gender pay gap reporting commitments.
The process has included detailed engagement with all Champion organisations and their leadership teams, workshops, masterclasses to share insights and learnings across organisations and a dedicated Champions for Change summit for CEOs and Chairs, alongside collaboration and data insights from Crayon’s register of more than 350 parental leave policies.
Carrie Hurihanganui, CEO of Auckland Airport and Co-Chair of Champions for Change says:
“We know that one of the most significant contributing factors to the gender pay gap is the career and income impact that can follow when women become parents, also known as “the motherhood penalty”.
”Strong, inclusive, parental leave and return to work policies, as well as normalising parental leave for all parents can play a critical role in closing the gender pay gap and help to keep more women in the pipeline towards leadership. Every step businesses take towards strengthening their parental leave policies helps to increase women in the workforce, delivering benefits for both businesses and the economy.
The framework has also been presented to The National Advisory Council on the Employment of Women – as part of a national conversation around gender equity in the workplace and addressing the motherhood penalty in New Zealand.
The Champions for Change parental leave framework can be found here.
ENDS
Notes to editors
Contact:
For media enquiries, please contact: Isobel Kerr-Newell on behalf of Champions for Change and Global Women
isobel@artemiscomms.co.nz | +64 27 886 0140
About Champions for Change and Global Women:
Champions for Change, a strategy of Global Women, is a collective of leaders, who connect, learn and lead change for working communities and cultures in Aotearoa New Zealand. Their vision is to see accessible, progressive and successful employment for everyone everywhere. It includes 80+ of the nation’s top executives (CEOs and Chairs) representative of Aotearoa’s private and public sector organisations and a workforce of more than 170,000 employees. As a collective they come together to shine light – building awareness and knowledge and take action – creating accountability and impact. www.championsforchange.org.nz
Global Women is a non-profit membership organisation that has been driving diversity in leadership through promoting, encouraging and facilitating the development of women for 15 years. The organisation is proud to partner with and support some of New Zealand’s most ambitious organisations, who are committed to driving increased diversity and inclusion in their workplaces. With over 400 Global Women members, the community is recognised for their ability to influence and impact, advocate for diversity, equality and leadership. Global Women’s Breakthrough Leaders and Activate leadership programmes have catapulted forward the careers of over 400 women. www.globalwomen.org.nz