Introduction

The Parental Leave Act entitles each parent to 18 weeks of unpaid parental leave. The leave must be taken before the child is 8 years of age, or 16 years of age in the case of children with disabilities or a long-term illness. This leave is non-transferable between the parents, except where both parents work for the same employer. However, this depends on the agreement of the employer.

The Act also provides for limited paid leave (force majeure leave) to enable employees to deal with family emergencies resulting from injury or illness of a family member, up to a maximum of 3 days in any 12 consecutive months or 5 days in any 36 consecutive months.

In general, an employee must have at least one year’s continuous service with the employer before he/she is entitled to take parental leave. However, where the child is nearing 8 (or 16 in the case of a child with a disability), and the parent has more than 3 months but less than one year’s service with the employer, he/she will be entitled to pro rata parental leave, i.e. one week’s leave for every month of continuous employment completed when the leave begins.

Further information

For further information please email Barry Crushell of Aperture Partners Advisory at bcrushell@aperturepartners.ie or call 01-9053503.

Please note that the material contained herein is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal or other professional advice. Reference accurate at time of publication but subject to change.