KPMG New Zealand offers 18 weeks of paid leave for new parents

The company is helping employees improve work-life balance

BY Dexter Tilo 25 Sep 2021

New parents working for KPMG New Zealand have been granted up to 18 weeks of flexible and fully paid leave to give them more time to take care of their children. The leave will fall under the company's newest Whānau@KPMG gender neutral policy, which can be taken flexibly any time during the child's first 24 months.

KPMG executive chair Matt Prichard shared his feelings of being a new father and said every parent should get the chance to be there for their children's first months.

"I've had the experience of being a new parent, and I know how exciting, exhausting, and significant that event is in your life – and that we do what we can to make the job fit with it," he added.

According to the company, KPMG will support its employees whether they are a primary or secondary caregiver or a foster parent with a newborn or adopted child.

"For our mums who often are the primary caregiver, this includes much more generous financial support than we’ve offered in the past. For our fathers, as well as the same kind of financial support, it might be a brand-new opportunity to take some time to be a dad and play a whole different role with your family in those early months," Prichard said.

KPMG's new policy also offers a "partnership with an award-winning platform that has been proven to drive positive change for gender equality and workplace culture to provide in-depth support."

The project also comes after the company held feedback sessions among its employees across the country. It is part of KPMG's goal to provide an inclusive, equitable, and flexible workplace that will help new parents balance their careers and personal lives.

"We recognise that we as an organisation, we won’t always get things right, and this is part of our journey. We listen to our people, and we evolve where we can. We’re heading in the right direction, but we know there’s more to do, so our journey continues," the KPMG chief added.