Families come in all shapes and sizes, each with their own joys and challenges. At AbbVie, we understand that every family is unique, and we're committed to supporting our employees and their families through every stage of life.

Our commitment to employee wellbeing has earned us a spot in the Best Workplaces in Australia list for the past 10 years running, and recognition by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality.

Through flexible policies, supportive communities, and a culture of understanding, we aim to create an environment where everyone can thrive, both personally and professionally.

We understand that the traditional 9 to 5 schedule may not always align with family responsibilities, which is why AbbVie offers flexibility for both where and when employees work. Our hybrid working model allows office-based employees to balance in-person collaboration with remote work.

Tom Brothers, National Customer Engagement Manager values the ability to structure his day to allow him to factor in family time.

“It’s great to have the freedom to be able to prioritise those early hours of the evening with the kids… dinner, bath, bed, the whole lot. There’s a lot of work I do that doesn’t need to be collaborative so if I’ve finished up early to get home to my family, that’s the work I do when the kids are in bed.

AbbVie extends its support to employees' families through our caregiver leave program. This program provides paid time off for employees to care for loved ones with serious health conditions.

AbbVie’s Head of Corporate Communications said AbbVie really stepped up for her family with amazing support during a major family health crisis.

“I was three years into working at AbbVie when my husband had a catastrophic stroke. It was a terrifying time with a long stay in hospital for him. I was able to take carer's leave and unpaid leave for six months. This gave me the time and ability to focus on my husband and children through what was a very difficult period.”

“When I decided it was time to return to work, my role was initially adapted so I could work remotely full-time, allowing me to tailor everything to my own schedule. This meant I could attend my husband’s doctor's appointments and various other activities that go hand in hand with being a carer.  

“It wasn't until this life altering health crisis happened to my family that I truly appreciated the importance of a 'flexible' workplace.”

AbbVie’s Market Analyst, Vipin Jolly Kannampuzha, says being a first time parent, he appreciates AbbVie’s commitment in providing a supportive work environment.

“The concept of flexibility especially driven from leadership is amazing to see in practice. By allowing me to structure my day according to what my family needs, it has made me a better parent and a happier employee.”

AbbVie’s parental policy is inclusive of all types of families and is available to both parents, regardless of gender. It includes birth, adoption, surrogacy, long-term fostering, same-sex and de facto couples as well as extended family members who have primary responsibility for a child under 16 years of age. The company offers 16 weeks of paid parental leave, in addition to providing superannuation contributions during the unpaid parental leave period for up to a maximum of 36 weeks.

AbbVie’s Patient Advocacy Lead, Sam Pearson was not only able to utilise the paid parental leave benefits available, but also participate in a pilot ‘Parental leave transition coaching program’ when she returned to work after her second pregnancy.

“My return to work after my second pregnancy couldn’t have been more different to my first. With three children under three, I knew there would be a bigger juggle than before in managing work and home life. Working with a coach during this transition was invaluable in helping me set goals from a personal and professional perspective, establish strategies to help me manage my time as well as prioritise in order to be a more effective contributor to the team. It also gave me the opportunity to work through some self-imposed limitations and some much-needed perspective on returning to work whilst bringing up my kids.

“Life with little kids always has a base level of chaos but thanks to the support I’ve received on returning to work, I feel like I can be both an active and engaged member of the AbbVie team as well as a present and happy mum.”

Explore more here on AbbVie’s benefits and see how we put our people first.