Snowy Hydro offers the most paid parental leave of any WORK180 Endorsed Employer in Australia, at 30 weeks for primary carers. EY, RANZCOG, First Sentier Group, and Essential Energy complete the top five, each offering 26 weeks.
We ranked Endorsed Employers on the parental leave that actually matters: weeks paid, waiting periods, and gender-neutral, equal cover for every carer. Here is the full breakdown, and the open roles behind it.
Compare at a glance
The top 5, side by side
Every employer below is pre-screened against 10 diversity, equity, and inclusion criteria.
Tap through to see their live open roles.
Company |
Paid primary carer leave |
Waiting period |
Industry |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1Snowy Hydro |
30 weeks |
12 months |
||
|
2EY |
26 weeks |
None |
||
|
3RANZCOG |
26 weeks |
None |
||
|
4First Sentier Group |
26 weeks |
3 months |
||
|
5Essential Energy |
26 weeks |
6 months |
Ever wondered if the perfect blend of career growth and family-friendly policies exists in the job market? The answer is a resounding yes, and the five Australian WORK180 Endorsed Employers below are leading the way.
It is not just about the number of paid weeks. It is about a holistic approach. These workplaces champion inclusive policies like gender-neutral language, not discriminating between a primary or secondary carer, and removing arbitrary tenure timelines before employees are eligible. The result is an environment where your professional and personal goals are not just acknowledged but actively supported.
Why a strong paid parental leave policy matters
Whether children are in your plan or not, working somewhere that prioritises work-life balance has real, tangible benefits:
- It promotes gender equality. Offering equal parental leave to all employees, regardless of gender, helps build a more equitable workplace and challenges stereotypes about who does the caring.
- It supports work-life integration from day one. Removing tenure requirements means you can balance work and family from the start of a role, not after an arbitrary waiting period.
- It lifts engagement. When you feel supported in managing your personal and professional life, you are more likely to be invested in your work and your team.
The full breakdown
Which Endorsed Employers have the best parental leave?
Rankings were correct as of 3 December 2025 and may have changed since. The live ranking always shows the latest.
Ranked #1
Snowy Hydro
Electricity, gas, water and waste services · 501 to 1,000 employees
30 weeks paid primary carer’s leave
- 30 weeks company-paid primary carer’s leave (12-month waiting period)
- 10 weeks company-paid secondary carer’s leave (12-month waiting period)
- 20 weeks company-paid adoption, foster, or surrogacy leave
- Gender-neutral parental leave entitlements
- Superannuation contributions continue while on parental leave
Ranked #2
EY
Consulting and professional services · 501 to 1,000 employees
26 weeks paid, no waiting period
- 26 weeks company-paid primary carer’s leave, no waiting period
- 26 weeks company-paid secondary carer’s leave, no waiting period
- 26 weeks company-paid adoption, foster, or surrogacy leave, no waiting period
Ranked #3
Ranzcog
Education and training · 101 to 250 employees
26 weeks paid, no waiting period
- 26 weeks company-paid primary carer’s leave, no waiting period
- 26 weeks company-paid secondary carer’s leave, no waiting period
- 26 weeks company-paid adoption, foster, or surrogacy leave, no waiting period
Ranked #4
First Sentier Group
Banking, investment and finance · 501 to 1,000 employees
26 weeks paid primary carer’s leave
- 26 weeks company-paid primary carer’s leave (3 months waiting period)
- 20 weeks company-paid secondary carer’s leave (3 months waiting period)
- 20 weeks company-paid adoption, foster, or surrogacy leave (3 months waiting period)
Ranked #5
Essential Energy
Mining, resources and energy · 501 to 1,000 employees
26 weeks paid primary carer’s leave
- 26 weeks company-paid primary carer’s leave (6 months waiting period)
- 26 weeks company-paid secondary carer’s leave (6 months waiting period)
- 26 weeks company-paid adoption, foster, or surrogacy leave (6 months waiting period)
Always up to date
Want every employer ranked for paid parental leave?
See the full, live list of WORK180 Endorsed Employers ranked on their parental leave, with the open roles to match.
The full breakdown
Real data, not good intentions
Every employer we endorse meets our minimum standards and completes a detailed diversity, equity, and inclusion survey. That gives us a clear, comparable view of what each company really offers, like parental leave, before you click apply. The rankings on this page reflect that data as of 3 December 2025, and the live ranking page is always current.
Common questions
Paid parental leave in Australia: your questions
Which Australian company has the best paid parental leave?
Among WORK180 Endorsed Employers, Snowy Hydro offers the most, with 30 weeks of company-paid primary carer’s leave. EY, RANZCOG, First Sentier Group, and Essential Energy each offer 26 weeks.
How much paid parental leave do the top companies offer?
The leading employers on this list offer between 26 and 30 weeks of company-paid primary carer’s leave. Several also offer the same amount of secondary carer’s and adoption, foster, or surrogacy leave, with no waiting period.
Do these companies offer gender-neutral parental leave?
Yes. A key reason these employers rank highly is that they offer inclusive, gender-neutral entitlements and do not discriminate between primary and secondary carers in the way many policies do.
How does WORK180 decide the ranking?
Every Endorsed Employer meets our minimum standards and completes a detailed diversity, equity, and inclusion survey. We use that data to compare employers on the benefits that matter, including parental leave, so you can make an informed choice before you apply.
Related articles
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From parental leave to dream job: how one woman made the leap
Worried that having young children might hold your career back? Kate Brooks felt the same, until she did not.
Keep exploring
See our other top 5 lists
Top 5 Australian companies with the best paid parental leave policies
Top 5 Australian companies with the best leadership diversity
Top 5 Australian companies with the best career development opportunities
Top 5 Australian companies with the best flexible and remote working policies
