At Accenture we are firmly committed to a family first culture where our people can build rewarding careers whilst prioritising the importance of family and carer responsibilities. Beyond our progressive policies we are proud to offer our people an environment that is inclusive and supportive of all family types and stages. Finding the ideal balance between family and work is not always easy. However, through practical and supportive initiatives such as flexible work arrangements and offerings to educate and empower working families, Accenture hopes to meet our people where they are, at all stages of life. This helps our people to thrive and reach new heights in both in and outside of work.
At Accenture we are proud of our family first culture and are committed to supporting our people to balance their work and family responsibilities. We recognise that the family journey is diverse, so it is important that we create a workplace culture that is inclusive of all family configurations and supports our people regardless of where they are on the journey.
Through both new and embedded policies and programs, we continue to look for new ways to support our people to achieve the balance needed to strive and thrive in their careers and personal life.
Our family first culture allows us to attract and retain the best talent.
In addition to offering 18 weeks paid parental leave for new parents regardless of gender we have broadened our supportive leave policies to include paid eldercare and disability support care leave, menopause and menstrual leave and assistive reproductive treatment leave. These progressive leave policies have been developed in recognition of the diverse needs of families and the support that can make a difference in the lives of our people.
Accenture is proud of the flexibility embedded in our flexible work arrangements and leave policies. For instance, our people have the flexibility to take parental leave in a manner that works for them and their family over the course of the child’s first two years– i.e. part-time work arrangements, blocks of leave or concurrently with the other parents leave.
Through equal family-friendly working arrangements for employees regardless for gender, we have increased workforce participation for women and caring opportunities for men, helping to reduce absenteeism, improve productivity and create a more highly engaged, motivated, and loyal workforce.
Community and connection are important when it comes to family care and support, and this is why our Family and Carers Employee Resource Group (ERG) continues to grow and evolve efforts to support our parent and carer cohort across all stages of the family journey. This Activities include hosting pre-leave workshops for expectant parents for them to learn more about our policies and support. They offer an opportunity to ask questions and connect with others taking leave. The ERG holds several events and informative webinars throughout the year, offering a chance for parents to connect, learn and engage in meaningful ways.
We continue to see a strong uptake in our parental leave policy with 770 or roughly 13% of Accenture’s 6,100 employees in Australia and New Zealand making use of our Parental leave policy over the past two years. Men made up about 58% or almost 450 of the parents who took the leave.
Through our employee listening channels, we continue to hear positive feedback on our inclusive culture, wellbeing support offerings and the flexibility available to all. Our Family and Carers ERG has recently seen increased interest and engagement in programs and events, such as a Children’s mental health webinar and school holiday programs.
We know that there is always room for improvement. Continually reviewing the support and offerings available to our employees will ensure that we understand the challenges people are facing and put in place relevant and meaningful initiatives that will enable our people to bring their best self to work.
Offering an inclusive and empowering environment that trusts employees, respects individuals and offers flexible work, brings with it several key benefits for our people and organisation.
It enables us to attract, develop, inspire and reward top talent. And it creates an environment that allows our people to perform at their very best and underpins a culture in which everyone feels they have an equal opportunity to belong and build a career.
We know that when people feel a sense of belonging, they feel validated, respected, and are more likely to feel at ease to open their mind to new ideas, new ways of thinking and are comfortable sharing them without fear of personal judgement.
Our progressive leave policies and family first culture are benefiting our parent and carer community, enabling our people to be present and committed both professionally and in the family unit.
In May 2023, I returned to work following parental leave for our first daughter and transitioned to a condensed fortnight i.e. working 10 days in 9. The process was straightforward, and I received valuable support and reassurance from my Performance Lead and Project Delivery Lead that choosing flexibility wouldn’t impact my career. This arrangement allowed me to stay fully engaged in my role at Accenture while creating space to be present at home and maintain parallel careers with my wife.
Since then, we’ve welcomed our second daughter and both taken second rounds of parental leave. We continue to work condensed fortnights, alternating our Fridays off. This gives our daughters an extra day a week at home and gives my wife and me dedicated time to connect with them individually. It’s a rhythm that brings balance to our family life and enables us to be hands-on parents while continuing to grow professionally.
Without nearby support from extended family, we rely heavily on the Flexible Work Arrangements offered by our employers. Accenture’s generous parental leave policies also made a significant difference, allowing me to take considerable time as the primary parent for both daughters. That time was invaluable in supporting my wife’s return to work and giving her the space to re-engage with her career on her own terms.
These arrangements are not just helpful; they are essential. They have enabled us to build a sustainable routine that works for our family, especially through key transitions like my second parental leave in late 2024 and my return to work in 2025.
Flexibility at Accenture is not just about policies. It is about people. I am proud to be part of a workplace that supports meaningful, sustainable ways of working. For us, it has made all the difference.
Jack Blackley – Talent & Organisation Senior Manager
At Accenture we are firmly committed to a family first culture where our people can build rewarding careers whilst prioritising the importance of family and carer responsibilities. Beyond our progressive policies we are proud to offer our people an environment that is inclusive and supportive of all family types and stages. Finding the ideal balance between family and work is not always easy. However, through practical and supportive initiatives such as flexible work arrangements and offerings to educate and empower working families, Accenture hopes to meet our people where they are, at all stages of life. This helps our people to thrive and reach new heights in both in and outside of work.
