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Dentons offers extra week of leave, increases parental leave entitlements
Global law firm Dentons is providing its Australian employees with an additional five days of bonus leave every year, which it says is to encourage staff to “take the time to recharge”, and has also upped its provisions for parental leave.
Jerome Doraisamy
Dentons has unveiled a new benefit for its staff in Australia, which allows them the option of additional days of leave over the course of a calendar year.
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Under the benefit, firm employees who have 10 or fewer days of annual leave balance, and have served at the firm for more than one year as of 30 April, will be eligible for five bonus days of leave come 1 July, which is to be used in the coming financial year.
The new incentive, the firm said, is designed to encourage employees to take the time to recharge by using their annual leave to ensure they receive the benefit of bonus leave.
The news follows the firm entering into a combination with PJS Law in the Philippines, first reported in Australia by Lawyers Weekly.
Speaking about the new incentive, Dentons chief operating officer Maureen Migliazzo (pictured) said that it is “vital” that legal professionals take the time to relax, recharge and re-evaluate.
“Our bonus leave is intended to reward our people with additional time to prioritise their mental, physical and emotional wellbeing,” she explained.
Elsewhere, the global firm has also bolstered its paid parental leave arrangements for all direct carers, as part of Dentons’ new family leave policy.
The revised policy, the firm said, “drops talk of gendered terms or traditional parenting roles”.
Moving forward, it will include key language around kinship groups that will be particularly useful for those of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, as well as those of diverse gender and sexuality.
Dentons will be providing equal access to 20 weeks of paid leave, it said, for any direct carer of a new child.
Ms Migliazzo continued: “Welcoming a new child into your home is a big commitment.
“Our new family leave policy is designed to support direct carers and allow them more time to spend with their families during what is a very special time.”
Dentons Australian chair Doug Stipanicev added: “Looking after our employees is key to Dentons’ strategy.
“Our people are fundamental to our success, and we are always looking for ways to acknowledge their efforts and dedication.”
Lawyers Weekly has extensively covered the parental leave allowances of various BigLaw firms. To read those stories, click here.
In recent months, Mr Stipanicev has sat down with Lawyers Weekly to discuss the firm’s revenue plans for the coming years, as well as its “investment in culture” in Australia.
Mr Stipanicev was also recently reappointed for a third term in his role.
Elsewhere, Dentons decided late last year to formally retire the role of global chair and also promoted 28 lawyers in June of last year and appointed six new partners towards the end of 2022.
