Parental Leave

If you've worked for us for at least 1 year and have a child or children under the age of 18, you're eligible for parental leave and you can start to use it from the day the child is born or placed for adoption, or from the point where you reach 1 years' service (whichever is greater). Parental leave can be taken any time up to the child's 18th birthday or until 18 years after the placement (in the case of adoption).

Both parents have the right to parental leave even if you're separated from your partner and don't live with the child, provided you've got formal parental responsibility you can still take parental leave.

You're entitled to up to 18 weeks for each child born or adopted and you can take up to 4 weeks leave per child in any one year.

Parental leave has to be taken in blocks of 1 week minimum, so even if you take 3 days parental leave, this will be recorded as one week out of your 4. Any time you've taken with a previous employer also counts towards your total.

If you have a disabled child, you do have the flexibility to take leave one day at a time.

No, parental leave is an unpaid period of leave, but you'll keep al your employment benefits (less pay) and your continuity of service.

You need to give us at least 21 days' notice, there's a form on our company intranet (see below) to help you do this. We do have the right to postpone any period of parental leave for up to 6 months if we have a legitimate business reason.

You'll receive a proportion of leave. For example, if you work 2 days a week, you can take a total of 18 weeks at 2 days per week, so 36 days in total.

If you need time off to care for your child, but haven't yet got one years' service, please talk to your manager as you may be able to take holiday or unpaid leave.

If you have a genuine emergency and need time off at short notice, you can also take Time Off for Dependents.