If you are a permanent full-time, part-time or casual employee you may be eligible to take up to 12 months unpaid parental leave under the National Employment Standards. Find out more in this fact sheet.
If you are a permanent full-time, part-time or casual employee you may be eligible to take up to 12 months unpaid parental leave under the National Employment Standards if:
It is very important to formally apply for unpaid parental leave under the National Employment Standards to make sure you become eligible for the ‘return to work guarantee’.
If you have formally applied for unpaid parental leave under the National Employment Standards, then you are eligible for the ‘return to work guarantee’. The return to work guarantee is where you have the right to return to the same job you held before your unpaid parental leave began. If that job is no longer there, you then have the right to an available position for which you are suited that you can do, which is nearest in status and pay to your old job.
You may ask to return to work part-time. Your employer does not have to give you part-time work, but if they do not, your employer should give you reasons why flexible working arrangements cannot be made. This refusal may also amount to unlawful discrimination under state and federal antidiscrimination law.
If your employer makes a decision that will affect your status, pay or location of work, they must take reasonable steps to inform you of this decision and give you an opportunity to discuss it with them.
More detail can be found in the fact sheet which you should download.
Call our Telephone Information Service on Melbourne Metro (03) 9662 1933 or Regional Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania on 1800 331 617.
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