Parental leave

You are entitled to leave:

• Before your baby is born, provided that the Social Insurance Agency's conditions for pregnancy benefit are met.
• You, like the other parent, are entitled to temporary parental benefit for 10 days, known as partner days, at the time of the birth and for the first few days afterwards
• If you adopt a child who is less than 10 years old, as parents you are entitled to payment for five days each. If you are a lone adoptive parent, you are entitled to ten days.
• From the birth of your child until he or she reaches 18 months of age, you have the option of taking full-time leave, with or without parental benefit.
• You have the option of working reduced hours until your child reaches the age of 8.
• As a state employee, your option of working part-time is extended until your child reaches the age of 12.
• If your child falls ill, you have the option to taking leave to care for him or her, known as temporary parental leave, until your child reaches the age of 12.

As there are many rules on this and these are amended relatively frequently, we recommend that you get in touch with your payroll administrator or the Social Insurance Agency for more information. Your entitlement to parental leave is regulated by the Parental Leave Act and the general agreement on pay and benefits for government employees.