Why some organisations take on family-friendly policies: The case of paid maternity leave

The Australian policy approach has relied on a narrow version of the `business case¿ to encourage workplace provision of paid maternity leave and other work - family benefits within a substantially deregulated labour market. The paper draws on case study research investigating organisational rationales for taking on equal employment opportunity and diversity initiatives. The findings suggest that the business case is only one of the reasons paid maternity leave is introduced or increased. Equally important were beliefs about the `right thing to do¿, both in terms of meeting community expectations and social justice or gender equity goals, a desire to enhance the stature and reputation of the organisation, and increase organisational commitment and cohesion. Given Australia is likely to remain without any statutory provision of paid maternity leave, the paper argues for a recasting of the policy approach, beyond the `business case¿, to encourage more widespread workplace provision.