Australian broadcaster offers staff condoms to deter maternity leave

An Australian broadcaster on Thursday revealed how it discourages staff from having babies and taking maternity leave -- a big jar of condoms at work.

A senior executive in Perth for Southern Cross Austereo, which runs the radio station that became embroiled in a British royal fake call scandal in 2012, said a third of her 100 staff were on maternity leave or covering for someone who was.

"We do have a big jar of condoms at work," Linda Wayman, who is boss of the broadcaster's two Perth stations Mix 94.9 and Hit 929, told a conference on recruitment and culture.

An Australian broadcaster, Southern Cross Austereo in Perth, has revealed how it discourages staff from having babies and taking maternity leave -- a big jar of condoms at work ©Chris Hondros (Getty/AFP/File)

"I'm not lying, I'm not exaggerating," she added, according to the conference organisers Mumbrella, a marketing and media website.

"I do encourage people regularly, to have sex with condoms. That is a big area of focus for me, encouraging people to have sex with condoms."

Wayman also revealed she runs an "Angelina Jolie award", in recognition of the child-adopting actress, to reward employees who have flourished in more senior roles made available by women on maternity leave.

"Our acting brand director for Hit 929 at our Christmas party last year received the Angelina Jolie Award, for the person who has benefited most for other people's pregnancies," she said.

"If women weren't pregnant then she would not have got this turbo-charged career opportunity."

Southern Cross Austereo chief executive Rhys Holleran told the Sydney Morning Herald Wayman's comments were "clearly... made tongue in cheek".

"She has an exemplary record as one of Perth's most compassionate advocates on all issues surrounding equality of women in the workforce," he said.

Southern Cross Austereo also runs Sydney station 2Day FM, which endured a global backlash after Indian-born nurse Jacintha Saldanha killed herself in 2012.

Her death came after she transferred a prank call by two DJs to staff caring for Prince William's wife Kate who was suffering from severe morning sickness.