Parental leave is unpaid time off that employees who are parents can take to spend time with their child up until the child's 18th birthday. E.g time to settle children into new childcare arrangements or look at new schools. Parental leave should not be confused with shared parental leave which is an entitlement that allows parents to split maternity or adoption leave between them.
If you have completed one year’s continuous service with the Company and have, or expect to have, responsibility for a child you are entitled to parental leave in accordance with the current statutory provisions. You may have responsibility for a child if you are the child’s natural mother or father, a step-parent or an adoptive parent.
You are entitled to a total of 18 weeks’ parental leave in respect of each child. In the case of multiple births, you are entitled to 18 weeks’ parental leave in respect of each child.
You may choose to take parental leave on or any time before the child’s 18th birthday.
Parental leave can only be taken in blocks or multiples of one week (unless you have a disabled child). You may not take more than four weeks’ parental leave in a year in respect of any individual child.
If you wish to take a period of parental leave you must give the Company at least 21 days’ written notice of your intention to take parental leave. Such notice must specify the dates on which you wish your period of parental leave to begin and end.
If you are the father of the child in respect of whom parental leave is to be taken and your intended period of leave is to begin on the date when the child is born, your notice of intention to take leave must specify the expected week of childbirth. Such notice must be given to us at least 21 days before the beginning of the expected week of childbirth.
If you are a new adoptive parent and you intend to take parental leave beginning on the date on which the child is placed with you for adoption, your notice of intention to take leave must specify the duration of the period of leave and the week in which placement is expected to occur. Such notice must be given to the Company at least 21 days before the beginning of the expected week of placement. If it is not reasonably practicable to give 21 days’ notice, notice must be given as soon as is reasonably practicable.
We may ask you to provide the following evidence of your entitlement to parental leave: