An employer must grant this request to any eligible employees who request it.  An employer can postpone granting it, with grounds to refuse (such as lack of cover, or another employee on Parental Leave) but only within a 6-month period after it has been requested.  

Since 1st September 2020, all parents (including adoptive parents and persons acting as parent to a child) are entitled to a maximum of 26 weeks unpaid Parental Leave for each child up to their 12th birthday.  Certain exceptions apply where a child has been diagnosed with a disability, or where adoption of a child has occurred between age 10 – 12 years. 

Parental Leave should be taken in one continuous 26-week block but may also be taken in two separate blocks (a minimum of 6 weeks each) with a gap of 10 weeks between each block.  Any arrangements other than these are at the discretion of the employer.

Do I have to pay my employees while they are on Parental Leave? 

Answer: 

No, Parental Leave is a form of unpaid leave, however, employees will continue to accrue Annual Leave as is they were at work, as well as being entitled to any Public Holidays that occur during the period in the same way as the entitlement would occur if at work. 

Answer: 

Yes, however, if an employee works 20 hours per week (50% of a ‘normal’ working week) their Parental Leave may be reduced on a pro-rata basis (example – 13 full working weeks’ worth of leave).