Stuff to offer unlimited sick leave to staff

Media company Stuff has committed to trialling unlimited sick leave as the Government looks to increase theminimum to 10 days.

Stuff chief executive Sinead Boucher informed staff on Thursday that, while the company was still ironing out the details, it would look to implement the trial early next year, for six months.

Boucher said themove to implement unlimited leave was part of Stuff’s vision of becoming New Zealand’smost trusted organisation, internally and externally.

‘‘As part of our implementing a high-trust, high-engagementmodel within our business, we have been reviewing how our internal policies live up to that vision. In the past we have been more compliance-driven than enabling, so we have begun looking at how we build a culture of mutual trust with our people,’’ Boucher said.

‘‘One of the first things we have looked at is sick leave...When our staff are unwell we want them to stay home and look after themselves. When their child is sick, they should do the same.’’

ANZ, one of the biggest companies to offer ‘‘unlimited’’ sick leave, said workers did not abuse the privilege.

The country’s biggest bank offered its 9000 staff ‘‘managed’’ sick leave instead of completely unlimited sick leave.