Parental Leave - what is it and how does it work?

[bizziebee]

Just noticed something about parental leave on another thread. I've never heard of it. Can any-one enlighten me?

You are entitled to up to 13wks unpaid leave before your child is 4 (or maybe 5). Has to be taken a week at a time - or at least if you take 1 day you loose a week (but will get paid for hte other 4 days you re at work). Some employers tag it on to the end of mat leave as an option to extend mat leave

Cheers - didn't know anything about it. Should my bosses have told me? Just returned to work after mat leave.

here .

They don't have to tag it to mat leave but my company gives me the option to tag it on.

I am in Scotland - is it different law here does anyone know? Maybe that;s why I have never heard of it.

Parental Leave is the same thoughout the UK.

great - could be v. useful for me. Shame it's not paid!

Do bear in mind that the 13 weeks is over the period until your child is five. They can stop you taking more than 4 weeks per year. Sadly, that means you cannot turn your maternity leave into 1 year 3 months by adding parental leave at the end.