EQUITY & DIVERSITY ANNUAL REPORT – 2006

Section 3.3: Work/Life Balance

Personal Leave

Personal Leave for caring purposes can be taken either on a half or full day basis. In 2005/06, it was used by 394 staff (46 per cent), a rise of 2 per cent from 2005. Of the staff who took the leave, 53 per cent were men, the same as last year. During the year, 50 per cent of women at the RBA used Personal Leave for caring purposes compared to 42 per cent of men.

Part-Time Work

During the year, 61 staff worked part-time (55 women, 6 men) compared to 64 (59 women, 5 men) in 2005. The figures reflect mostly women who were on temporary part-time work arrangements.

Parental Leave

Women are entitled to 14 weeks’ paid maternity leave and men to two weeks’ paid paternity leave. The chart below provides a breakdown based on gender for staff commencing paid parental leave.

During 2005/06, a total of 44 staff commenced paid parental leave (19 women and 25 men). There was a slight decrease of 1 per cent from 2005 but this was still higher than in 2004 when 36 staff commenced paid parental leave (16 women and 20 men).

For this reporting period, a total of 30 women returned from parental leave. Eleven of those returning resumed part-time while 13 resumed full-time work. This compares favorably with 14 women who returned in 2005 from parental leave of which 9 resumed part-time and two resumed full-time. An 80 per cent return rate was experienced in 2005/06 compared to 79 per cent for 2005. The percentage of women resigning prior to completing parental leave for this reporting period was 20 per cent, 1 per cent lower than for 2005.

Fitness Facility

The RBA encourages a healthy lifestyle. In addition to supporting sporting events, the RBA operates a fitness facility at Head Office. The facility is available for use by staff at lunchtime and out of work hours. Staff desiring to use the facility must first attend a training session in the safe use of the equipment. Approximately 600 staff members received this training during 2005. During the year, 94 staff members attended weekly pilates and yoga classes.