Employee’s+Entitlements+to+Parental+Leave

Employee's Entitlements to Parental Leave

//Wiki by Monique Storie// __Topic Question:__ What are an employee's entitlements to Parental Leave (including time off work and monetary entitlements)?

====The birth mother/adoptive parent must have worked for the same employer for an average of at least 10 hours a week, and at least one hour in every week or 40 hours in every month, in the six or 12 months immediately before the baby’s expected due date or the date you have assumed the care of a child you intend to adopt. //(Department of Labour, 2010)//==== ||
 * < ====**Who is entitled to Parental Leave?**==== ||
 * < ====Female employees who are having a baby can apply for parental leave, or in the case of a couple adopting a child under six years of age, the couple can nominate which of the two are to receive parental leave.====


 * ====**What paid and unpaid leave is available?**==== ||
 * ====__Unpaid Leave:__====

Partners who are also employees can take up to 2 weeks parental leave (1 week for those in employment for 6 months, 2 weeks for those in employment for 12 months).
====Extended leave of up to 52 weeks is available to those who have been in employment (with the same employer) for 12 months. This may be shared between both eligable parents but cannot exceed 52 weeks (both parents may take leave at the same time, or one after the other).====

__Paid leave:__
====Paid Parental Leave of up to 14 weeks continuous leave is availale to female employees who gave birth to the child, or either parent in the case of an adoption and whom meet the six or 12 months eligability criteria. //(Department of Labour, 2010)//==== ||


 * ====**How much money are you entitled to under paid parental leave?**==== ||
 * ====You may be entitled to receive a maximum payment of $441.62 per week (before tax). You are entitled to either your gross weekly rate of pay (your pay before tax) or $441.62, whichever is lower. The payments will commence when when your parental leave begins - which you can choose in accordance with the restrictions mentioned above.====

The payments can cease earlier than 14 weeks if any of the following occur:

 * ====If you transfer the payment, or part of the payment, to your spouse/partner====
 * ====If you return to work before the end of the paid parental leave period====
 * ====If you resign from your job====
 * ====If you are employed on a fixed-term agreement that expires during the paid parental leave period. //(Department of Labour, 2010)//==== ||


 * ====**Which area of law covers Parental Leave?**==== ||
 * ====Parental Leave is covered by the 'Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act 1987'. The Act aims to set minimum entitlements, protect employee's rights and entitles those who are eligable to 14 weeks paid parental leave. //(NZ Legislation, 2010)//==== ||


 * ====**Where can you find more information?**==== ||
 * ==== More information can be found by visiting the following websites: ====
 * ====[|www.ers.dol.govt.nz/parentalleave/] ====
 * ====[|www.ird.govt.nz/yoursituation-ind/parents/parents-paid-parental-leave.html] ====
 * ====[|www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1987/0129/latest/DLM120104.html] ==== ||