Parental leave is often used as a loose term to cover a wide range of family-friendly employment rights. However it has a specific legal meaning.

A parent, or someone with caring responsibility for a child, can seek a period of parental leave from their employer. The rights apply to adoptive parents too. Parental leave is unpaid leave (unless the employer allows for paid leave) and its purpose must be the care of the child.



Parents have the right to take up to 18 weeks parental leave before their child’s 5th birthday, or fifth anniversary of adoption. Parents of disabled children may take the leave up to their child’s 18th birthday.

The employee must give proper notice of the request. An employer can postpone the request for up to six months on business grounds.

Employees can take up to four weeks per year out of the 18 week entitlement as parental leave unless their employer agrees a longer period.

Example:
Dave, who has been working for his employer for a year, is aware that his son is starting school at age 4 in September and believes that he will need time to settle in. Dave requests that his employer grants him unpaid parental leave of 4 weeks so that he can take his son to school each day over this period.

As to parental leave generally, see our fact sheet here.