Getting the Balance Right - Defining 'Family'
Families come in all shapes and sizes.
Families come in all shapes and sizes. Keep this in mind as you are writing your policies. The way your organisation defines family will play an important role in the policies you develop.
The Industrial Relations Act 1999 defines 'immediate family' as:
"...the employee's spouse (including a former spouse, de facto spouse and spouse of the same sex as the employee), and a child, ex-nuptial child, stepchild, adopted child, ex-foster child, parent, grandparent, grandchild or sibling of the employee or the employee's spouse".
Another definition of family:
"By family, (this organisation) means those relationships defined as such by the employee. Specifically,
There are many definitions of 'family' which your organisation can use.
(this organisation) acknowledges that a family relationship may exist where a same sex relationship is involved".
Find family friendly clauses you can use for your organisation.
What might caring for family include? A helpful guide from NSW Office of Industrial Relations.