any parental leave experts who can offer advice?

[juniper76]

I will be the primary caregiver for our child and will take parental leave as such. In addition to the government paid parental leave, my employer also offers paid parental leave.

However, my husband has told me that his contract entitles him to 6 weeks of paternity leave (presumably as the secondary caregiver). Can he take this if I'm on parental leave as the primary caregiver? How does it work? My understanding was that the government only allows both parents to be on parental leave for 2 weeks after the birth? Can an employer's entitlements alllow us to both be on leave for longer? I know my company also offers up to 3 weeks parental leave to the secondary caregiver and I have co-workers who have used that leave, but I never considered the implications of it until now.

Who should I be talking to to find out more information?

Thanks in advance for any advice you have to offer.

[Persephone1]

You would have to look at your DH's contract to know what he's entitled to. *Most* parents (ie.not the birth mother) are entitled to one week parental leave (it's not really called paternity leave anymore).

However, my DH, for example, is entitled to an additional 5 weeks "family care" leave IF he is to be the primary carer. This applies if I am sick, and if I return to work. He cannot access it if I'm still DS's primary carer.

Hope TMS. Your DH could always ask his HR department for advice.

[juniper76]

Thanks Persephone. I'll see if I can get him to bring home a copy of his conditions. I think I've got buckley's chance of convincing him to talk to his HR department...

I hear you about the "paternity" leave too. My employer's policy is written in terms of primary and secondary caregivers, not mother and father. I was involved in the preparation of that policy, but am not a HR person, so only have a basic understanding.