One Australian fashion brand is challenging the norms of parental leave — and it’s got people talking.

Fashion label DISSH has introduced an expanded paid parental leave policy, giving employees with children under 12 an additional two weeks of leave each year to support family needs.

In a statement published on the DISSH website’s Empower page, the company said: “Life happens, family members get sick and need support, and to us, that’s OK. Deadlines can wait, family can’t.”

While many have praised the move as a step ahead of the times, some employees without children have questioned whether expanded parental leave benefits are fair.

Professor Elizabeth Hill, an expert in gender equality in the workforce, says DISSH is leading the way in workplace flexibility, but believes these policies could go further.

“DISSH are really leading in this space. It’s not something that we’ve really seen before, but there is more pressure on employers to think more creatively,” she said.

So, as workplaces rethink how they support families and carers – is it time Australia rethinks its parental leave policies?