The Warehouse Group introduces fully paid parental leave

The Warehouse Group enhances its parental leave benefits by introducing fully paid parental leave to better support team members.

Starting 1 January 2022, The Warehouse Group has begun top up paid parental leave payments to 100 per cent of a team members’ salary or wage for the 26-week paid parental leave period, which includes all permanent team members across distribution and fulfilment centres, stores and support offices for The Warehouse, Warehouse Stationery, Noel Leeming, Torpedo7 and TheMarket.com.

Richard Parker, The Warehouse Group’s Chief Human Resource Officer says the introduction of fully paid parental leave recognises the importance the company places on supporting its team members.

“As New Zealand’s largest retail group, we recognise the responsibility we have to ensure the wellbeing of our 12,000 team members, including during the important phase of becoming a parent.

“For many people there are additional financial pressures associated with having a child and we want to provide our team members with financial security as they embark on their parenting journey.”

In addition to 26 weeks on full pay, The Warehouse Group also continue to support KiwiSaver contributions, and annual leave will still be accumulated as normal during the time away from work.

The ‘ease back to work’ part of the policy enables team members to take one day off per week for four weeks but continue to be paid as normal. The parental leave benefit also extends to partners, who are also entitled to paid leave within 21 days either before or after the new addition joins the family.

FIRST Union National Organiser, Ben Peterson, says “It’s great to see The Warehouse Group taking this step to look after team members who are about to become new parents and we fully support the move. This will provide team members with fairer financial support, but also gives parents the option to transition back to work at a time that works for their family. We are pleased to see that the entitlements extend to all permanent team members working in stores, fulfilment and distribution centres.”

Under the paid parental leave policy, entitlements will apply to team members who are pregnant or expecting to have permanent responsibility for a child, under the age of six, through adoption, permanent care, whāngai or permanent guardianship.