parenting > legal matters > parental leave
PARENTAL LEAVE
Parental leave is designed to allow parents more time with their young children. As of 15 December 1999, employees with children born or adopted on or after that date and who have completed one year's service with their employer have been entitled to a total of 13 weeks parental leave per parent per child. In April 2001, rights to parental leave were extended to all parents of children under five on 15 December 1999. The leave is usually unpaid and should not be confused with maternity or paternity leave. You must take your parental leave before your child turns five unless you are receiving Disability Living Allowance for the child, in which case you can take parental leave until the child’s 18th birthday. Where a child has been adopted, you can take your parental leave in the five years after the adoption placement or until the child’s 18th birthday, whichever is sooner. Parental leave is usually limited to four weeks in any annual leave year but your employer may offer more flexible terms. All employees are also entitled to take reasonable time off work to deal with an emergency or unexpected situation involving a dependant. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) publishes regulatory guidance on parental leave on its website, which may answer many of your questions. If not, you can contact the DTI for more assistance.
|
