Search
shop

The PTO Reveals Paid Maternity Leave Policy

"It truly is an innovative policy" - the words of Rachel Joyce, Co-President, to the announcement of the PTO Paid Maternity Leave Policy
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Another step forward with the strategic roadmap of the Professional Triathletes Organisation (www.protriathletes.org), with the announcement and implementation of a Paid Maternity Leave Policy.

While the majority of PTO-related headlines to date have been around events (Collins Cup / PTO 2020 Championship / support for independent races during COVID), and prize money / bonus pools, the PTO’s mission has always been more structural than that. There can be more to athlete support & development than ‘extra’ on the prize purse listings. This, perhaps, is the most public deliverable to date on that plan.

There will be plenty more items on the PTO’s wish list I’m sure, some of which have been discussed previously – for example, health care and insurance provision – all of which take time and investment. Over the longer term, all of these will need to become sustainable and self-financing through income generation, but this represents another step towards what the PTO hopes to become.

Whether it ever gets there remains to be seen, but it’s another indication that the money behind the business plan is committed to building for the long-term. On that basis alone, the PTO’s development is a story worth following.


PROFESSIONAL TRIATHLETES ORGANISATION
ANNOUNCES PAID MATERNITY LEAVE POLICY

The Professional Triathletes Organisation today announced that it has adopted a Maternity Leave Policy for women PTO Professionals. Under the policy, a woman PTO Professional shall be entitled to take up to 15 months of Maternity Leave, beginning from her pregnancy date and ending six months after birth. At the time of her pregnancy, her PTO World Ranking will be fixed, and during her Maternity Leave she will be paid monthly payments based on 100% of the PTO Annual Bonus Plan in effect at the time. For example, under the PTO’s existing Annual Bonus Plan, the woman PTO Professional ranked World No.5 would be entitled to a $60,000 bonus payment at the end of a calendar year. In the event the woman PTO Professional ranked World No.5 woman athlete becomes pregnant and takes her full 15 months Maternity Leave, she shall be paid $5,000 per month for 15 months from her pregnancy date, totalling $75,000.

Rachel Joyce, Co-President of the PTO, commented, “We are delighted to have adopted this Maternity Leave Policy. It recognises the unique reality women athletes face in trying to maintain a professional athletic career while balancing family planning. The PTO’s Maternity Leave Policy will ensure that in the future women PTO Professionals who seek to start families can do so with financial support and additionally maintain their PTO World Ranking. It truly is an innovative maternity policy.”

Charles Adamo, Executive Chairman of the PTO, added, “The PTO is almost unique among professional sporting organisations in that it represents both men and women professionals, who work together to see the sport of triathlon grow and thrive. While triathlon has always had a great reputation in having equal prize purses for men and women, it has not managed to consider the reality that pregnancy and childbirth can cause a woman’s professional athletic career to be disrupted. The PTO’s Maternity Leave Policy is just another example of the many ways that PTO Professionals, by uniting together in their own organisation, have been able to have a positive impact on our sport. From our $2,500,000 COVID-19 payments to PTO Professionals, to the 15 local races around the world we have supported this year with over $300,000 of prize money, to the upcoming $1,150,000 PTO 2020 Championship, which has prize money for every qualifier, and now our Maternity Leave Policy – none of this would have been possible had the PTO Professionals not united to form the PTO. All of this has been accomplished in the face of an incredibly difficult year and is a tribute to the positive impact a united body of PTO Professionals can have in our community.”

In addition to the Maternity Leave policy, the PTO has adopted a Parental Leave Policy that allows PTO Professionals who become parents to take up to four months Parental Leave from racing without having it affect their PTO World Ranking and related Annual Bonus payment.

Full Maternity Leave Policy here


For more news on the Professional Triathletes Organisation, Rankings, Collins Cup and more, check out our dedicated section on the site HERE.

Professional Triathletes Organisation
John Levison
Written by
John Levison
TRI247's Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in triathlon for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages, whilst he can also be found commentating for events across the UK.
Discover more
TRI247 podcast p/b Challenge Family episode 2
Go behind the scenes at Challenge Roth with the latest episode of the TRI247 podcast
Cadomotus Chronos triathlon cycling shoes
The triathlon cycling shoe that promises a 10-watt saving: Cadomotus Chronos Aero triathlon cycling shoes review
Challenge Family Roth
Five things you need to know about the Challenge Roth bike course
Challenge St. Pölten 2024 - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
Expert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
TRI-FIT VANGUARD tri suit review
The entry-level tri suit with a serious amount of performance for the price point – TRI-FIT VANGUARD review
latest News
Kristian Blummenfelt Kristian Hogenhaug Casper Stornes IRONMAN Frankfurt 2025
Triathlon GOAT Mark Allen sends “great champions” message to red-hot superstar Kristian Blummenfelt
Zachary Josie bike
Age-group athlete with dwarfism says INCREDIBLE goal is “in his grasp” at Challenge Roth
Joe Skipper finished fifth at Challenge Roth 2023
Challenge Roth 2025: Triathlon star Joe Skipper comes back from the brink for another shot at iconic race
ironman hamburg 2025 podium laura philipp kat matthews solveig lovseth beer
Challenge Roth 2025: Laura Philipp backed to make triathlon history by crashing through magical time barrier
Challenge Roth press conference 2025
Challenge Roth 2025: Date, start times, how to watch live and who’s racing
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...