Can I take Mat Leave then DH Pat Leave?

[megaminz]

Hi,

I am in QLD and we are trying to conceive. My question is can I take my paid Mat leave then DH take his paid Pat leave or would he be only able to take annual leave?

Is there legislation regarding this or does it just cover unpaid Mat leave?

Anyone with any knowledge regarding this would appreciate info!!

[Roxy]

It will depend on his award/agreement as to what amount of paternity leave he will be allowed to take. It's worth him checking with his employer.

Maternity and Paternity leave can't be taken concurrently though, only consecutively (meaning that you both can't be on parental leave at the same time, except for the first 2 weeks)

[missie_mack]

Paternity leave and parental leave are different. Paternity leave is at the birth of the child, usually a week and unpaid. Parental leave can be any time frame up to 2 years depending on what state you are in.

If your DH has paid paternity leave it probably stipulates when it can be taken but it can be taken at the same time as the partner/wife is on paid maternity leave. Parental leave can't be taken at the sametime as the other partner but one can take over from the other assuming they have served the minimum time requirement for entitlement :)

[bigglet]

I would think it would be dependent on your workplaces/employers?

[zenifa]

Firstly, it depends on your employer as to what entitlements you and your DH have, rather than legislation. So check with your HR people.

For example, some employers have set rule about how early you can start mat leave (ie not more than 6 weeks prior to due date), and that you can only use annual leave after your mat leave runs out, and that you can't use sick days.
For paternity leave, usually its one or two weeks and can be paid or unpaid, and can only be taken around the time of the babies birth or shortly after. Some employers will allow him to take annual leave after the paternity leave.

However I do know of some employers (such as some universities) that offer paid paternity leave if the mother doesn't get paid maternity leave (as in private sector). A friend of mine had 6mths unpaid mat leave when her son was born. After that she returned to work, but her DH had 6 mths paid paternity leave.

Both my DH and I work in the public service, he had 1 week paid paternity leave both times (plus he took 2 weeks of annual leave) and I had 12 weeks paid maternity leave, plus annual leave.

[megaminz]

cool thanks, will get him to hunt his contract up or ask HR people. I like to be prepared!!