Increase in parental leave?

FionnB

Hi - hope someone has some up-to-date info on this. I read a few articles online recently that said that parental leave would be increased by one month this year or next. Seems this is an EU directive but Ireland was late bringing it in. Does anyone know if a decision has been made on whether this will come into effect any time soon?

Moonbeam

This is the best description that I can find -

http://www.hayes-solicitors.ie/news/RevisedParentalLeave.htm

REVISED PARENTAL LEAVE DIRECTIVE

In line with Guideline 18 of the Lisbon Treaty to increase the participation of women in the professions and in the workplace and as little attention has been paid heretofore to the reconciliation of childcare responsibilities and the distribution of home tasks, the EU Council agreed the terms of a revised Parental Leave Directive on the 30th November, 2009. The Directive came into force on the 8th March, 2010 and Member States have until March 2012 to transpose its provisions into national law.
The revised Parental Leave Directive is trying to ensure that both parents take leave and it includes the following changes:-
The right of working parents to parental leave is extended from 3 to 4 months for each child. This previous entitlement stood at 14 weeks per child. This entitlement is given to both parents of a child or an adopted child up to the age of 8 years. The leave is an individual right and should not be transferred from one parent to another. However, in order to encourage a more equal take up of leave by both parents, one of the months is non-transferrable. If only one parent takes the leave then it is limited to 3 months.
The terms apply to all categories of workers including part-time, temporary and fixed term workers. The revised Directive permits Member States to maintain the possibility of a qualification period of one year before an employee can apply for the leave. In the case of successive fixed term contracts with the same employer, the sum of these contracts must be taken into account for the purpose of calculating the qualifying period.
Conditions of access and rules for applying for the leave will be left up to the Member States. Member States can decide whether parental leave is granted on a full-time or part-time basis, in a piecemeal way or in the form of a time-credit system.
All forms of less favourable treatment are prohibited including dismissal on grounds of applying for or taking up parental leave.
Governments, employers and unions will be obliged to assess and consider the specific needs of adopted children and children with a disability.
Employees returning from parental leave shall (a) have the right to return to the same job or, if that is not possible, to an equivalent or similar job consistent with their employment contract or relationship and (b) will have the right to ask for changes to their working hours and/or schedules for a limited period. Employers will be obliged to balance the needs of an employee as well as the business in considering such requests. Both parties will be encouraged to maintain contact during the period of parental leave and to arrange reintegration measures on return to work.
Member States may of course introduce more favourable provisions to those outlined above.
Under existing legislation in Ireland an employee is not entitled to paid parental leave. This has acted as a disincentive to many parents. The revised Directive still leaves the matter of paid parental leave up to the individual Member States. Given the economic state of the nation the current position is unlikely to change in Ireland.

FionnB

Thanks for this. It is so unfair that the extra month can only be used by the second parent. My husband earns the bulk of our income and couldn't possibly take this, while it is not a big deal financially for me to take it. It also seems to discriminate against single parents.

Moonbeam

Current Irish rules -
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/employment_rights_and_conditions/leave_and_holidays/parental_leave.html

FionnB

Thanks, Moonbeam. I see there is no mention that this may be revised soon...

doubletrouble?

just a quick question on this.
Amount of parental leave

Parental leave is available for each child and amounts to a total of 14 working weeks per child. Where an employee has more than one child, parental leave is limited to 14 weeks in a 12-month period. This can be longer if the employer agrees. (This restriction does not apply in the case of a multiple birth, such as twins or triplets.).
as we know nothing is ever clear cut or laid out in lay-mans terms in this country. as most of you know myself and purple have newborn twins. can someone please tell us what the above in bold means. am i only entitled to 14 weeks or is it 28 weeks?

Moonbeam

It means 28 weeks can be taken in 1 year by the parents of twins.

"Amount of Entitlement due

Each parent is entitled to take parental leave for a maximum period of 14 weeks in respect of each eligible child.

The leave is not transferable between parents.

The maximum parental leave allowed in a given twelve month period is fourteen weeks even if you have more than one eligible child. However, this provision is set aside in the case of multiple birth.

Eg; Twenty eight weeks' parental leave in respect of twins may be taken in the same twelve month period.

However, where a teacher has two eligible children of differing ages, this teacher can only take a maximum of fourteen weeks' parental leave in one twelve month period."

http://www.into.ie/ROI/InformationforTeachers/LeaveofAbsence/ParentalLeave/