parental leave

Coveredinbees!!!!

I had never heard of this until I was sent a new company handbook recently. Apparently I'm entitled to 18 weeks per child up to a maximum of 4 weeks per year per child, unpaid of course. Has anyone any experience of using this leave, it would be really handy for me as my wife was hoping to try and return to work but holiday cover in the school holidays was a real issue.

agrinnall

It's not a secret, read all about it here.

https://www.gov.uk/parental-leave/overview

Darksparkle

She could also look into term time work.

Coveredinbees!!!!

I didn't say it was a secret I just wasn't aware of it.

ohreally

Delete....

agrinnall

Coveredinbees!!!! wrote: »

I didn't say it was a secret I just wasn't aware of it.

I think "thank you for taking the trouble to track down the information I was looking for" is what you were trying to write but somehow typed the wrong letters.

Coveredinbees!!!!

No I don't think that was what I was saying at all but if you need to big yourself up go ahead.

FBaby

No need to say this messes about most employers, so even though you are entitled to it and therefore can ask, they could be difficult in agreeing the dates YOU want and also decide to stop any other flexibility that is not a requirement (ie. your normal holiday requests).

Not saying that you shouldn't consider making use of this, but be careful how you go about it.

agrinnall

Coveredinbees!!!! wrote: »

No I don't think that was what I was saying at all but if you need to big yourself up go ahead.

I thought it might teach you some manners, but clearly not.

martinsurrey

Coveredinbees!!!! wrote: »

it would be really handy for me as my wife was hoping to try and return to work but holiday cover in the school holidays was a real issue.

the employer can delay your request by up to 6 months

https://www.gov.uk/parental-leave/delaying-leave

"Leave can’t be postponed (delayed) if:

the employer doesn’t have a ‘significant reason’, eg it would cause serious disruption to the business"

this could include staff coverage for school holidays.

I know in my workplace staffing levels during school holidays is a nightmare, so don't think you can just expect it to be granted.

FBaby

We had a member of staff using this parental leave entitlement to get 4 weeks off the summer school holiday. We all struggled with childcare, so were all in the same boat, but she thought she could flex her rights using this policy. We warned her it wouldn't work. Sure enough, she was told that she could take the 4 weeks, in 4x1 week at a time, outside of school holidays. No need to say it's not what she wanted. She ended up finding a term time only job, so that worked well for her.