Aussies deeply divided as company offers workers two extra weeks of leave - but only those with kids

• DISSH offers parents an extra two weeks of leave

An Australian company has divided opinion after offering its workers an additional two weeks of leave if they have children under the age of 12.

Fashion retailer DISSH introduced the policy in March to help parents juggle school events, sick days and major milestones. 

The female-founded retailer said the additional leave aims to close the financial gap faced by women in the workforce.

The policy is based on the philosophy that 'ambition and motherhood are not opposing paths.' 

'Parents and carers of children aged 0 to 12 can apply for up to two weeks of paid leave a year, used flexibly for the everyday demands of raising young children, a school assembly, a sick day, an early pick-up when childcare falls through,' a DISSH spokesman told Daily Mail.

'It isn't leave for an extended family holiday, it's built around the moments where parents need to show up for their children that don't fit neatly into a workday but still need to happen. It doesn't accrue and isn't designed to function like annual leave.' 

Small business owner Gab Wilson said the policy is an inspiring step forward.

'I think it's 2026 - these two worlds should absolutely coexist,' she said.

DISSH was founded by Maree Henry as a single store on the Gold Coast back in 2001.

Today, the fashion label is led by her daughter, Lucy Henry-Hicks, a young mother of two who became CEO and creative director in 2020. 

Ms Henry-Hicks said the company was committed to championing 'change in the areas we believe we can be of service'.

'We'll keep building on the work we've already done, and later this year, that commitment takes a new form: we're launching our foundation,' she said. 

The additional two weeks has divided Aussies online, with many saying it unfairly advantages employees who don't have children. 

'Just because someone doesn't have children doesn't mean they don't have other things going on in their personal life that may require time off,' one wrote. 

'As a parent this feels wrong. A few days? Sure. But two weeks is a long time and that feels unfair to the people without kids,' a second added.

'They have lives and responsibilities too.' 

Others praised the company for setting a new standard in the workplace. 

One Aussie, Maddy Banks, said a lot of people had missed the point.

'If you are childless by choice, there's a reason for that,' she said.

'That's because you understand and recognise that there is a significant burden placed on your life if you choose to have kids.

'Parents are using parental leave just to have time off for no reason. They need that time to be there for their children.' 

A second added: 'Why the debate? Every parent knows how hard it is to fit in with the current leave entitlements when you've got kids.'

'The owner of DISSH is a mum. She gets it! People need to realise she's supporting her employees not pocketing her business profits,' another added. 

The new initiative builds on DISSH's existing family-friendly benefits, which already include paid leave for IVF and fertility treatment, surrogacy and adoption planning, pregnancy-related illness, and flexible return-to-work arrangements. 

In April, the Australian Council of Trade Unions used a parliamentary inquiry into national employment standards to argue for full-time employees to have their standard working week cut from 38 hours to 35.

The proposal could pave the way for a four-day working week, while allowing workers to keep their current pay.

The union movement says shorter hours would improve work-life balance, reduce burnout and boost productivity.

The plan is backed by the retail workers' union, the SDA, the Australian Services Union, the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, the United Workers Union and Victorian Trades Hall Council.

National employment standards currently guarantee 11 minimum entitlements for workers, including a 38-hour week, reasonable additional hours and the right to request flexible working arrangements, but unions want those protections expanded to reduce working hours.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions argues that despite the proposed reduction in working hours, employees should not lose pay or conditions, including penalty rates and overtime.

ACTU president Michele O'Neil said Australian workers had been putting in long hours for long enough and it was time for change.

'Working people work to live, not live to work, and the results of trials tell us more time for workers boosts productivity, reduces burnout, improves their health and retention,' she said.

'Australians have been working record long hours for some time now – currently around an average of four and a half weeks of unpaid overtime each year.

'While Australians work longer hours, the gap between productivity and real wages is getting wider. Real wages would need to increase by 10 per cent to catch up to increases in productivity since 2000.'