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But for FSU member Nicholas Mohr, it was one of the most stressful periods. All because his employer – a large insurance provider – cancelled his previously approved paid parental leave (PPL) just weeks before his baby’s due date, claiming there were inconsistencies with his medical certificates. 

Not long before, Nicholas was told his role had been made redundant through a restructure, with his final day set for 25 January 2025. His baby’s due date was 24 January. 

“They kept saying that if the baby wasn’t born by 24 January then too bad, you don’t get your parental leave because you don’t work here anymore,” said Nicholas. 

Nicholas’s PPL was due to last five months, with him and his partner planning to share primary caregiver responsibilities 50/50. 

“I thought I was going to lose the most important time as a first-time dad.  

“It wasn’t so much about the money, it was about having the time to spend with my daughter.  

“I was very anxious, having panic attacks, which led to me developing stress-induced gastritis, which felt like I had a hot knife in my stomach. 

“That’s destroyed my stomach – I’ve had to completely change my diet.” 

Fighting for common sense 

Nicholas contacted the FSU once HR told him the devastating news about his PPL being cancelled. 

“It was very drawn out – HR sent the FSU a declining letter, then a couple of people in HR took a week off and weren’t due to return until after the date when my employment ended.” 

It was only after the FSU wrote a dispute letter to the head of HR that justice prevailed, and management backed down on their previous stance. 

“When it got approved I just sobbed for hours. I was inconsolable.” 

Nicholas has been a strong champion for union membership for a long time, but he never thought he would need to call on the union to assist with something as outrageous as this. 

“I thought common sense would prevail,” he admitted. 

“The team I ran was one hundred per cent the most unionised team there. I talked about the union all the time and encouraged people to join.” 

For Nicholas, his ordeal proved what he had long advocated to his colleagues.  

“If I wasn’t in the union, I would be at Centrelink right now trying to get what I could.  

“You need to be a member. The money is tax deductible, and you get lawyers and all these people to advocate for you.  

“It’s the most important thing you can do, especially when you work for a giant business and you’re just a number. 

“You’ve got the strength in numbers with the union.” 

We’re pleased to report that Nicholas’s baby daughter was born healthy, and he is now enjoying the beginnings of fatherhood with the financial support of his union-won PPL entitlement. Good luck, Nicholas!