Home topics workplace Nicky Drobis, director of Fender Katsalidis, with her family. Photo by Kristoffer Paulsen. Featured Workplace Featured Leading the change: Fender Katsalidis introduces equal parental leave Momoko Metham February 11, 2020 Architecture firm, Fender Katsalidis, is introducing a new parental leave policy that will give eight weeks of full wage paid parental leave to both men and women, without distinguishing between primary and secondary caregivers. All team members, including those working part-time and on a casual basis, will be eligible, in addition to any government entitlements. A superannuation top up to the full annual level in the first year is also part of the policy for full-time and part-time staff. “We are proud to make this announcement and show our genuine commitment to giving equal opportunities to both men and women,” said Fender Katsalidis director, Nicky Drobis. “It is rare to find a parental leave policy where men and women are treated the same, as there are often clear distinctions made,” she said. This comes as Finland’s Prime Minister, Sanna Marin, just recently called for reform to improve gender equality by giving fathers the same seven months paid parental leave as mothers. Currently in Australia, employees can be paid parental leave from both the Australian government and their employer. The government schemes include the Paid Parental Leave which gives new parents up to 18 weeks’ leave at the national minimum wage rate and the Dad and Partner Pay, which is a two-week leave paid at the national minimum