Snowy Hydro offers the most paid primary carer’s leave of any WORK180 Endorsed Employer in Australia, at 30 weeks. Dentons Australia, RANZCOG, First Sentier Group, and Ericsson complete the top five with 26 weeks each, and Dentons and RANZCOG offer it to every parent with no waiting period.
All of this sits on top of the government’s Paid Parental Leave scheme, which now provides up to 26 weeks for eligible families. Here’s how each employer compares on weeks paid, waiting periods, and equal cover for every carer, with the open roles to match.
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 |
Where they hire |
Industry |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1Snowy Hydro |
30 weeks |
12 months |
NSW, VIC, SA |
||
|
2Dentons Australia |
26 weeks |
None |
NSW, VIC, QLD, WA |
||
|
3RANZCOG |
26 weeks |
None |
VIC |
||
|
4First Sentier Group |
26 weeks |
3 months |
NSW, VIC |
||
|
5Ericsson |
26 weeks |
6 months |
VIC, NSW |
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. All five offer gender-neutral parental leave entitlements, and some go further. Dentons Australia and RANZCOG give every parent the same 26 weeks from their first day, and Ericsson offers 26 weeks to every carer after six months. 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 22 October 2026 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
Dentons Australia
Legal 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
- Gender neutral parental leave entitlements
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
- Gender neutral parental leave entitlements.
- Contributes to employee pension/superannuation /401(k) plans while on parental leave.
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)
- Gender neutral parental leave entitlements.
- Contributes to employee pension/superannuation /401(k) plans while on parental leave.
Ranked #5
Ericsson
Telecommunications · 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)
- Gender neutral parental leave entitlements.
- Contributes to employee pension/superannuation /401(k) plans while on parental leave.
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. This list is ordered by weeks of paid primary carer’s leave. Where employers offer the same number of weeks, the one with the shorter waiting period ranks higher. The rankings on this page reflect that data as of 22 October 2026, 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 paid primary carer’s leave, with 30 weeks. Dentons Australia, RANZCOG (the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists), First Sentier Group, and Ericsson each offer 26 weeks. Dentons Australia and RANZCOG also offer 26 weeks to every parent, including secondary carers and adoptive, foster, and surrogate parents, with no waiting period. These rankings were correct as of 22 October 2026, and the live ranking always shows the latest.
How much paid parental leave do the top companies offer?
The five employers on this list offer between 26 and 30 weeks of paid primary carer’s leave. Two of them, Dentons Australia and RANZCOG, offer the same 26 weeks to secondary carers and to adoptive, foster, and surrogate parents, with no waiting period.
Do these companies offer gender-neutral parental leave?
Yes. All five offer gender-neutral parental leave entitlements. How equally they cover each parent varies: Dentons Australia, RANZCOG, and Ericsson offer the same weeks to primary and secondary carers, while Snowy Hydro and First Sentier Group offer more weeks to the primary carer.
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 rank employers by weeks of paid primary carer’s leave, with the shorter waiting period ranking higher when employers offer the same number of weeks. Each employer’s profile also shows secondary carer and adoption leave, so you can compare the full picture before you apply.
Related articles
Why it is essential to acknowledge dads in parental leave conversations
More organisations are challenging the stereotype that caregiving is something only women manage.
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
