Parental Leave
Parental Leave provides for unpaid leave from work for parents to look after their young children. All employees who have completed one year’s continuous service on the date the parental leave is due to commence are entitled to 14 weeks unpaid Parental Leave.
An employee must give written notice to an Organisation of their intention to take Parental Leave, not later than 6 weeks before the commencement of the leave. Employees may be required to provide evidence of his or her entitlement to parental leave. Once notification of the intention to take Parental Leave has been made, a confirmation document must be prepared which must include:
- The date on which the leave will commence
- The duration of the leave
- The manner in which the leave will be taken
- The signatures of employer and employee.
Management may decide to postpone the parental leave, for up to 6 months, if satisfied that granting the leave would have a substantial adverse effect on the operation of the business.
Parental Leave may be terminated if there are reasonable grounds to believe that it is being used for a purpose other than taking care of the child concerned.
