Work-life balance
Leave options
Annual leave
We offer five week's annual leave for roles in the Office of the Auditor-General.
Leave entitlements
Permanent and fixed-term employees have access to sick leave, bereavement leave, and family violence leave from the moment they start working with us.
Sick leave is pro-rated for fixed-term staff on six months' contracts or less.
Benefits for families
Annual leave rates for returning parents
When you return from parental leave, we continue to pay your annual leave at the same rate as before going on parental leave.
Paid partner leave
We offer you two weeks of paid partner leave so you can support your spouse or partner who has given birth to your child or assumes primary care for the child – this also applies to situations of adoption, home for life parents, whāngai carers, or permanent guardians.
Paid partner leave can be taken starting 21 days before the due date of the baby (or the date your spouse or partner becomes the primary carer for a child under six years) and ending 21 days after the baby is born (or the date your spouse or partner becomes the primary carer for the child).
Ex-gratia payment for returning parents
If you are returning from parental leave (primary carer leave), we will offer you an ex-gratia payment. This benefit will support you and your family as you return to work after taking time off to care for your child.
The ex-gratia payment is six weeks' salary. You are eligible for this benefit if you complete six months' continuous service from your return date. The entitlement is paid out after three months from the day you return.
If you take less than six weeks of parental leave, you will receive an amount equivalent to the number of working days you've taken.
If both parents work for the Office, only one of them is entitled to the benefit.
Child-friendly offices
We welcome children in our offices to support families with occasional and short term needs so that family commitments can be more easily managed.
These may include teacher-only days, attending appointments before or after school, or unexpected disruptions to school attendance or to childcare arrangements.
Flexible work when returning from parental leave
Returning to work after parental leave can be a significant transition for parents and often require some additional support. We offer flexible working options by default to all returning parents.
We will always aim to accommodate flexible working arrangements in the first twelve months from your return.
Flexible working arrangements may include altering start and finish times, reducing weekly hours, remote work, or limiting travel requirements.
Page updated: 3 April 2025