Queensland Unions are joining an Australia-wide campaign to improve the lives of employees juggling work with caring and parenting responsibilities.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) today released survey results showing 85 per cent of working Australians also have significant family caring and/or parenting responsibilities.
Queensland Unions are already at the forefront of the new campaign to Change the Rules for Working Women & Families.
Queensland Council of Unions General Secretary Ros McLennan aid more than 5,400 Australians responded to the survey.
“They clearly told us that life is not all about working,” said Ms McLennan.
“Participants said they need time to care for children or family members with a disability, medical condition, mental illness or an aging parent or other family member.”
Queensland Unions have already secured nation-leading domestic violence leave for workers in the state, and believe family friendly policies are vitally important to cope with modern life.
According to the survey, around 60 percent of working people have never asked for reduced hours to assist with juggling family caring and work, with many worried about their job security and many suggesting that their workplace management and culture does not support flexible work.
Queensland Unions – through the ACTU – are arguing in the Fair Work Commission (FWC) that all employees should be entitled to reduced or part-time working hours when they have caring and parenting responsibilities, on a temporary basis, and go back to their role and previous hours when caring responsibilities reduce or cease.
The FWC will hear the case in December.
Key survey findings:
The “Change the Rules for Working Women and Families” campaign will include: