The Rudd government is waiting on a report from the Productivity Commission due to be handed down next February – before deciding whether or not to introduce a national paid maternity leave scheme.

In the meantime, Myer, Coles and Aldi have in the last week or so announced paid parental leave schemes.

In the case of Myer, it will be offered to full and part time staff who’ve been at the company for a minimum of 18 months.

Paid maternity leave/parental leave is seen as a way of attracting and retaining staff in the middle of a skills and labour crisis.

Currently, only around a third of women have access to paid maternity leave, and most of them are working for the government, or big business.

How would a paid maternity leave scheme affect whether or not you stay in the workforce?

Apparently around a third of working mums don't return to the workforce after having children…what’s your story?

Would it have made a difference if paid maternity leave had been/or was an option for you?