One of the most important benefits that an employee can receive is maternity leave. It allows working women to take some time off work to take care of their child after giving birth. An enterprise agreement is a document that outlines the conditions for employees in an organization including the terms of employment, salary, and other benefits. This article will discuss the requirements for maternity leave in the ATO enterprise agreement.
Eligibility for maternity leave:
According to the AT0 enterprise agreement, an employee is entitled to maternity leave if they have worked for the organization for a minimum of 12 months continuously. The employee must also meet the following criteria:
1. The employee must be a permanent employee.
2. The employee must have provided the employer with notice of the expected date of birth of the child and the intended start and end dates of maternity leave.
3. The employee must provide the employer with medical evidence that they are pregnant.
4. The employee must be the primary carer of the child.
Duration of maternity leave:
The duration of maternity leave for employees in the AT0 enterprise agreement is up to 52 weeks. This period includes any paid maternity leave entitlements, such as government-funded parental leave.
The employee can take the maternity leave period in two ways:
1. Continuous maternity leave: This means that the employee takes the entire 52 weeks of maternity leave in one go.
2. Intermittent maternity leave: This allows the employee to take maternity leave in multiple periods, with the employer`s approval. The total maternity leave period cannot exceed 52 weeks.
Salary during maternity leave:
Employees who take maternity leave in accordance with the AT0 enterprise agreement are entitled to receive their base salary during the period of leave. The employer also has the discretion to provide paid leave for part of the leave period, up to a maximum of 18 weeks.
The employer may also agree to allow the employee to take paid annual leave during the maternity leave period. This is subject to the employer`s approval and the employee’s request.
Conclusion:
Maternity leave is a critical benefit for working women. It allows them to take time off work to care for their child after giving birth. The AT0 enterprise agreement includes provisions for maternity leave. Eligible employees can take up to 52 weeks of maternity leave, with base salary, and the option of paid leave or annual leave. It is important for employees to read and understand the enterprise agreement and follow the process outlined to receive maternity leave benefits.