Parent's Leave Update
Employers Update: Parent’s Leave
As of 1st November 2019, new regulation has been introduced into Irish law in the form of the Parent's Leave and Benefit Act 2019.
The Act provides new parents, of a child born or adopted no earlier than 1 November 2019, with two weeks paid Parent’s leave each, to enable him or her to provide or assist in the provision of care to the child.
Where the birth of a child is part of a multiple birth, or a person adopts 2 or more children at the same time, the parents are still entitled to only 2 weeks of Parent’s leave.
The leave must be taken within 52 weeks of the birth of the child or, in the case of an adoption, from the date of placement of the child. Paid Parent’s Leave can be taken in addition to existing Maternity Leave, Adoptive Leave, Paternity Leave and Parental Leave, as applicable to each relevant parent.
A relevant parent includes a parent or spouse or civil partner or cohabitant of a parent of the child.
Two weeks paid Parent’s Leave will be paid by the state at the same rate as Maternity Benefit and Paternity Benefit.
The employee who wishes to takes Parent’s Leave must give to the employer six weeks' notice in writing of the proposed Parent’s Leave. Also, the paid Parent’s Leave must be taken in either a two-week block or in one-week blocks within the first year of the child's birth or adoption. It is not transferable between parents.
The employer may, in limited circumstances, postpone Parent’s Leave four weeks before the proposed start date. The postponed Parent’s Leave must be granted within twelve weeks of the original date.
It is important to note that the employee retains all rights whilst on leave and has a right to return to work after Parent’s Leave on the same terms and conditions as before.
This update is provided by the MSS HR Support Service.
Further details on the update or about our services may be obtained from:
John Barry/Tara Daly/ Hugh Hegarty at tel: 01 8870690
Email: info@mssthehrpeople.ie
Website: www.mssirl.ie
