Rights for Working Parents and Carers

6. Parental Leave

Both mothers and fathers are entitled to time off to look after their children.

6.1 They are entitled to 13 weeks' unpaid parental leave per child.

• This entitlement must normally be taken before the child's fifth birthday.
• Parents of adopted children may take it at any time up to five years after the placement (or until the child's 18th birthday, if sooner).
• Parents of children with disabilities are entitled to 18 weeks per child, and may take it at any time up to the child's 18th birthday.
• Leave must be taken in agreement with you, the employer. If it is impossible to reach agreement, there is a fallback position under which not more than four weeks' leave may be taken per child per year, unless you agree to vary this.
• Unless immediately following birth or adoption, you can ask that the leave be postponed for up to six months if it would seriously disrupt the business.
• If the employee disagrees, he or she has the right to go to an employment tribunal.

6.2 Only parents who have one year's continuous service with you qualify.

6.3 Parents must give you reasonable notice that they intend to take parental leave.

Under normal circumstances, this means at least 21 days.