Parental Leave Extension
The right to take unpaid parental leave is being extended from 5 April 2015.
Currently parents can take up to 18 weeks’ unpaid time off per child for the purpose of caring for that child. The right cannot be exercised after the child’s fifth birthday. The right applies to birth and adoptive parents and anyone else with parental responsibility for the child. In the case of adoptive parents, the right can be exercised up until the fifth anniversary of the child’s placement.
From 5 April 2015, the right is being extended so that parents can exercise the right up until the child’s 18th birthday. This is already the case in respect of disabled children.
The changes are contained in the draft Maternity and Parental Leave etc. (Amendment) Regulations 2014.
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