Risk Company Update

Westpac now offering staff early pregnancy loss bereavement leave

Westpac is now offering staff five days paid leave in the event of the early loss of a pregnancy, within the first 12 weeks. The Early Pregnancy Loss Leave facility recognises that early pregnancy loss may require time and space for the person to work through a difficult time.

Westpac also has other pregnancy loss-related policies, including pregnancy loss at 12-20 weeks (up to 13 weeks special paid maternity leave for birth mothers and carer’s leave for partners). Later pregnancy loss or stillbirth after 20 weeks allows birth mothers access to the full range of parental leave benefits, while partners are supported with compassionate and carer’s leave options.

The aim is to acknowledge that early pregnancy loss can still be a very sad time and allows some measure of recognition instead of people suffering in silence. The policy is effective from Monday 12 July.

REA Group acquire Mortgage Choice

The acquisition of Mortgage Choice Limited has been successfully completed by REA Group. The combined businesses will have over 940 brokers, over 720 franchises and 40 lending partners, with a total loan book of over $84 billion.

NEOS upgrades adviser technology platform

Life insurer NEOS has updated its adviser platform, OneOffice, in partnership with insurance technology company, Ebix.