Men are using reproductive leave almost as much as women, a Queensland Council of Unions (QCU) survey of State public sector workers has revealed, one year after the introduction of the entitlement.

Of the 954 Queensland Public Sector (QPS) employees who participated in the QCU survey, 76% reported having accessed reproductive leave in the previous year and nearly 700 respondents used between one and eight days, “indicating flexibility and responsible use”, QCU general secretary Jacqueline King told Workplace Express.

Men took an average of four days, compared to the 4.5 days overall.

King said that the QCU has heard that men are taking reproductive leave, rather than sick or annual leave, to attend fertility treatment.

The QCU has also heard that a number of rail workers used their leave to undergo early prostate screening and found issues, “thereby enabling them to enter into early treatment which is critical with prostate cancer”.

Some 78% of respondents said they knew that men can also access the leave, and 95% agreed that it should be available to all workers across all industries.

“When asked how easy the process was, over 560 people said applying was as easy or easier than other leave types,” King said.

“Overall the leave is valued, supports wellbeing, and fosters inclusive workplace culture.”

All QPS workers, regardless of gender, are entitled to 10 days of non-cumulative leave per year to use for fertility or IVF treatment, hysterectomies and vasectomies, and for absences related to chronic reproductive health conditions such as endometriosis, dysmenorrhea, adenomyosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, and menopause symptoms.

The leave also covers preventative reproductive health screenings, including breast and prostate, capped at four hours a year.

Unions Push for Reproductive Leave in the NES

Nation wide Unions are stepping up the campaign to secure 10 days of reproductive leave in the National Employment Standards (NES), making it a universal right for every worker, not a benefit available only in certain sectors or workplaces.

Momentum is building. On 27 November 2025, the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Workplace Relations, Skills and Training launched an inquiry into the operation and adequacy of the NES, following a referral from the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Hon Amanda Rishworth MP.

Recommendations from the committee are expected to be released shortly.

Across the industrial landscape, there is a clear understanding that reproductive leave is a likely next addition to the NES. Intelligent governments and businesses who are serious about being employers of choice are already adopting reproductive leave. The direction of travel is clear: this entitlement works, and it belongs in the national safety net.

The Union movement is unequivocal: reproductive leave should be a universal workplace right not a postcode lottery and not dependent on employer goodwill.

The evidence is compelling:

  • Workers use the leave responsibly.
  • Men and women both benefit.
  • Early screening and treatment improve health outcomes.
  • Workplace culture becomes more inclusive.
  • Workforce participation is strengthened.

Reproductive health affects workers across their entire working lives. Supporting people to manage fertility treatment, chronic conditions, preventative screenings and menopause is not just compassionate, it is economically and socially responsible.

We will continue to advocate for reproductive leave to be enshrined in the NES and urge members to engage with the current inquiry process.

When workers are supported to care for their health, everyone benefits; workplaces, families and the broader economy.