Unpaid Parental Leave

Summary of entitlement

Parental leave offers employees the right to take unpaid time off work to look after their child or make arrangements for their welfare. It can help employees spend more time with their child and strike a better balance between their work and family commitments. Parental Leave must not amount to more than 18 weeks (which can be taken up to the child’s eighteenth birthday). Employees are entitled to take a maximum of 4 weeks’ a year. Employees with a child up to the age of 18 years, may apply for parental leave.

Parental leave qualification

The employee is entitled to take parental leave from day one of employment.  The employee must have legal parental responsibility for the child.  

Procedure for applying for parental leave  

  • The University must be given 21 days written notice of an employee’s intention to take Parental Leave in excess of 4 days’ duration.
  • The written notice must contain details of why the employee needs to take Parental Leave and the dates and periods of time that they wish to be absent.  
  • The University reserves the right to postpone any request for Parental Leave for up to 6 months.
  • Parental Leave may be taken on a per parent per child basis and can be taken to lengthen paternity and maternity leave within reasonable limits. Leave may be taken in daily or weekly blocks.
  • The leave can be for any purpose connected with the care of the child.