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Parental Leave
From 15 December 1999 new fathers will for the first time have a right to 13 weeks unpaid parental leave to be taken during the first five years of the child's life (for employees with at least one year's continuous service). Leave for mothers is also amended.
The changes, under the Employment Relations Act 1999, are due to an EU directive. The Government decided that paternity leave should be unpaid for the electorate but Members of Parliament awarded themselves three weeks of paternity leave paid at almost £1,000 per week.
The new rules allow parents with children born or adopted after 15 December 1999 to take time off work to care for the child. They apply to all mothers, all married fathers, unmarried fathers who have obtained Parental Responsibility and adoptive parents. Leave may be taken when the child is born or placed for adoption. If twins are born each parent may take 13 weeks leave for each child.
Leave may be taken at any time up to the child's fifth birthday (or within five years of adoption). Parents of disabled children may use their leave up until the child's 18th birthday.
Employees remain employed while on parental leave and are guaranteed the right to return to the same (if leave taken is less than four weeks) or similar job.
For more information see the Parental Leave Guide and Interim Guidance Note provided by the Department of Trade and Industry.
Also useful is the page on Paternity - Leave and Pay.
For background information see the Equal Opportunities Commission Parental Leave page.
The Parental Leave Campaign is calling for Parental Leave to be
for both parents. FNF is pleased to support the campaign.
- Paid
- Operated flexibly
- Promoted
Donations, support and enquiries to:
The Parental Leave Campaign
45 Beech Street
London EC2P 2LX
0207 588 8583
Updated 29-02-2000