Who can take parental leave?
Relationship to the child Both mothers and fathers, whether they are birth or adoptive parents, can qualify for parental leave, provided they are employees (see 1.3). They must either be named on the child’s birth certificate or they must have, or expect to have, parental responsibility under the law[3] for the child. The parents of a child do not have to be living with the child in order to qualify for parental leave. Employees who are adopting a child will be entitled to take parental leave because they will have parental responsibility when they adopt. In some cases legal responsibility for looking after a child will have been given to someone other than a natural or adoptive parent, such as a guardian. If an individual has acquired parental responsibility for the child, he or she will be entitled to parental leave if the qualifying conditions set out in this document are met. Parental leave must be to care for a child (see 2.2). Length of employment Employees with children born on
