Eligible employees can take Unpaid Parental Leave to look after their child’s welfare, for example to:
\n\nTheir employment rights (like holidays and returning to a job) are protected during Unpaid Parental Leave.
\n","slug":"overview","title":"Overview"},{"body":"Parental leave is unpaid. You’re entitled to 18 weeks’ leave for each child and adopted child, up to their 18th birthday.
\n\nThe limit on how much parental leave each parent can take in a year is 4 weeks for each child (unless the employer agrees otherwise).
\n\nYou must take parental leave as whole weeks (for example 1 week or 2 weeks) rather than individual days, unless your employer agrees otherwise or if your child is disabled. You do not have to take all the leave at once.
\n\nA ‘week’ equals the length of time an employee normally works over 7 days.
\n\nExample
\n\nIf an employee works 3 days a week, one ‘week’ of parental leave equals 3 days. If an employee works irregular weeks the number of days in a ‘week’ is the total number of days they work a year divided by 52.
\nParental leave applies to each child, not to an individual’s job.
\n\nExample
\n\nAn employee is entitled to 18 weeks. They’ve used 10 with a previous employer. They can use up to 8 weeks with their new employer if they’re eligible.
\nEmployees qualify if all of these apply:
\n\nEmployers can ask for proof (like a birth certificate) as long as it’s reasonable to do so - for example they cannot ask for proof each time an employee requests leave.
\n\nEmployers can choose to offer parental leave to those groups who are not eligible. Employees can check this in their staff handbook.
\n","slug":"eligibility","title":"Eligibility"},{"body":"Employees must give 21 days’ notice before their intended start date. If they or their partner are having a baby or adopting, it’s 21 days before the week the baby or child is expected.
\n\nEmployees must confirm the start and end dates in their notice. Unless an employer requests it, this does not have to be in writing.
\n","slug":"notice-period","title":"Notice period"},{"body":"Leave cannot be postponed (delayed) if:
\n\nIf it’s postponed, the employer:
\n\n