The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference congratulates the Archdiocese of Chicago on its announcement on 19 May that it will offer its employees 12 weeks paid parental leave.

Since 23 September 2008, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has been offering its staff 14 weeks of paid parental leave. A key policy of the Church is supporting parents and creating a family friendly workplace.

In addition to any employer funded parental leave, Australia’s government paid parental leave scheme offers up to 18 weeks of parental leave paid at the national minimum wage.

The Archdiocese of Chicago is innovative in its entitlements given the fact that the United States government considers parental leave to be a benefit that an employer may or may not offer to its employees.

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics National Compensation Survey in 2013, only 12 per cent of working women had access to this support.  There is some access to unpaid parental leave through the Family and Medical Leave Act, but there are many conditions around eligibility.

Jane Bashiruddin, Employment Relations Advisor, Office for Employment Relations, Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, said, ‘I think the Archdiocese of Chicago is doing very well and going against the grain of most employers in the United States. I congratulate the Archdiocese on their initiative to support parents and family life, which is part of our mission as Church’.