Reproductive Health Leave | Dr Silvia Salazar and Dr Abebe Hailemariam
Have you ever had to take a day off work due to severe period pain? Or to manage menopause symptoms? Or to attend an IVF appointment? New research reveals it would save the Australian economy billions of dollars a year if employers offered leave specifically for reproductive health.
In this episode our host David Karsten talks with the authors of the research, Dr Silvia Salazar and Dr Abebe Hailemariam, from the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre. They discuss what reproductive health leave is and explore the benefits it could have for both employees and employers, including economic savings, increased productivity, improved mental health and wellbeing, and better workplace equity.
They also discuss some of the risks of implementing reproductive health leave and the cultural stigma associated with women’s reproductive health.
- What is reproductive health leave (RHL)? [01:02]
- Absenteeism and presenteeism costs economy A$21billion [03:49]
- RHL is a shared concern and promotes equality [08:45]
- How other countries offer RHL [10:28]
- Will RHL discriminate against women? [15:19]
- Steps to legislate RHL in Australia [23:00]
Connect with our guests
Research Fellow, Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre
Dr Salazar is a researcher in development economics, ethnic and gender issues and public policy. She obtained her PhD at the Paris School of Economics and the University Paris 1, Panthéon Sorbonne, and has presented her research at numerous international conferences and workshops.
Senior Research Fellow, Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre
Dr Hailmarian obtained his PhD in Economics from Monash University, where he and received the Mollie Holman Medal Award for Best doctoral thesis in the Faculty of Business and Economics at Monash University.
Dr Hailemariam’s research areas of interest include energy economics, health economics, housing, gender and inequality.
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Transcript
Behind the scenes
Host: David Karsten
Content creators: Caitlin Crowley and Zoe Taylor
Producer:Emilia Jolakoska
First Nations Acknowledgement
Curtin University acknowledges all First Nations of this place we call Australia and the First Nations peoples connected with our global campuses. We are committed to working in partnership with all Custodians and Owners to strengthen and embed First Nations’ voices and perspectives in our decision-making, now and into the future.
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