Working Life > Vacation > Parental Leave

Paid Parental Leave: Policy and Regulations

Definition, Explanation

The law for education benefits and parental leaves regulates the basics of education-vacation. Up to the end of age 3 of the child, parents are entitled to unpaid exemption from work and are, in permanent employment contracts, dismissal-protected during that time. The dismissal protection starts when the parent announces the leave, but not earlier than 8 weeks before beginning of the leave.

Also protected are part-time employees who continue to work taking no parental leave. For every complete calendar month of parental leave (excluding part-time work), the employee's days of annual vacation granted can be decreased by 1/12. Rest vacation from before the parental leave that has not been taken, is to be taken in the year of end of the parental leave or the year after.

Christmas money during the parental leave depends on the individual contract. If the entitlement is granted conditioned by the permanentness of the employment, then Christmas money is given.

Since Jan. 01. 2007, parental money is paid.

Tips, Checklist

• Do read through the law for education benefits and parental leaves thoroughly. It includes regulations of requirements and conditions for entitlement and taking of a parental leave, entitlement to vacation and pays during vacation, dismissal, dismissal protection, period of notice for dismissals, fixed-term employment contracts, employees in occupational education and in home-offices
• Coordinate your desires and ideas with your employer in time
• Keep up regular contact with your employer and your boss
• Try to keep informed about the branch of industry and the products. This considerably eases your recommencement
• Use some time of your parental leave for further education and learning, as far as child care allows
• Often, companies provide printed forms for applying for a parental leave, in their personnel department. The latest allowed date to apply is 6 weeks in advance in case the leave immediately follows the birth resp. the maternity period, in other cases 8 weeks in advance. Ask your personnel department how to proceed

Last update: 06/06/2010