The power of presence: how Nine’s parental leave policy redefined family bonding for Engineering Manager Cyril George

Taking the time that matters most

When Cyril George and his wife welcomed their second child, Leo into the world in 2024, they decided to use Cyril’s 18 weeks of paid parental leave to create family memories on the road.

Cyril, Engineering Manager for Nine’s Identity Platform, has been with Nine for over 11 years, during which time he has experienced the updates to Nine’s parental leave offering.  Cyril reflected on what this meant for him, “I knew from my firstborn that those early moments are fleeting, so we decided that with the new parental leave policy that had been introduced in 2024 that we would take the time as a family to connect.” 

When Leo was born, in May 2024, Cyril and his team were preparing for the Paris Olympics. Cyril and his family decided that he would take the 2 weeks of leave initially, and the remainder of the 18 weeks paid leave afterward. “This was the first Olympics for Nine in the streaming world, it was a big project I’d been working towards and I wanted to see it through so I decided to split the leave up to suit my family’s needs.”

Reflecting on his decision to travel Australia, Cyril shares that he realised what a significant time it was for his young family, with his eldest child starting school in 2025, and his wife planning to return to work, it seemed like the perfect time to travel. “We realised we could either be at home together, or we could be on the road travelling together, and the travelling idea seemed like such an awesome opportunity to connect.”

The road less travelled

“We said, ‘let’s just pack the basic things we need,'” Cyril recalls. “The only intention we had first was to see if we could make it to Melbourne.”

What began as a simple car trip evolved into a 40-day adventure. With no fixed itinerary or advance bookings, the family of four journeyed from Sydney to Melbourne, and then on to Adelaide and Kangaroo Island. They adopted a caravan-camping style of travel, stopping every two hours for feeding and nappy changes for their four-month-old baby. This unscripted approach allowed for genuine spontaneity and the freedom to adapt to their new family’s needs.

Navigating his leave was made seamless by the support from Nine. “My manager was very supportive,” Cyril notes. He worked with his manager to schedule his leave around key work commitments, ensuring a smooth transition for both him and his team.

Lasting reflections on a growth journey

Reflecting on the trip, Cyril speaks about the profound impact it had on his family. He contrasts it with his experience as a new father the first time, when long commutes and a busy schedule meant he had limited time with his daughter during her first few months. “By the time I was getting home, she would either be sleeping or getting ready for bed,” he says. This time, however, was different.

He observed how Leo bonded with the family and how his daughter thrived during the journey. “We almost felt in that 40 days itself there was a lot of difference in his growth,” Cyril recalls. “It is amazing and really nice to see how he also bonded to us as a family during the journey.” The trip created a strong foundation for their relationships, a meaningful contrast to the challenges that often come with modern family life.

Nine’s policy: building empathy and trust

For Cyril, Nine’s extended parental leave sends a clear and powerful message about work-life balance. “It’s an emotional support for the family and it’s also a huge bonding moment for fathers to connect with their family”, he says.

The policy provides families with options, whether that’s allowing a partner to return to work or, as in Cyril’s case, creating a unique opportunity for both parents to be fully present. Cyril felt “a lot more revived and a lot less stressed” upon his return to the office, having had the chance to fully disconnect and spend quality time in those pivotal moments.

Nine’s parental leave policy not only supports new parents but also fosters a culture of trust and empathy, encouraging employees to prioritise what truly matters: family.