Page 48 - ITM Employee Handbook September 2020

This table explains the differences between the types of leave for parents.

Leave Who gets it? How long? Is it paid?

Maternity 26 weeks and up Yes, Maternity Benefit
leave Female employees to 16 unpaid weeks is paid for 26 weeks

Adoptive Adoptive mothers, Men adopting alone 24 weeks and up Yes, Adoptive Benefit is
leave to 16 unpaid weeks paid for 24 weeks

Paternity New parents of children under 6 months 2 weeks Yes, Paternity Benefit is
leave of age (but not the mother of the child) paid for 2 weeks

Parental Parents and guardians of children under
leave 12 22 weeks No, it is unpaid

Parent’s Parents of children under 1 year of age 2 weeks Yes, Parent’s Benefit is
leave (or in first year of adoption) paid for 2 weeks

3.10.2 Entitlement to leave as a relevant Parent
The following are employees who qualify for Parents Leave:
• A parent of the child
• A spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant of the parent of the child
• A parent of a donor-conceived child as provided for under section 5 of the Children and
Family Relationships Act 2015
• The adopting parent or parents of a child
• The spouse or civil partner of the adopting parent of the child (if the parents have not
adopted the child together)
• Each member of a married couple of the same sex, a couple that are civil partners of each
other, or a cohabiting couple of the same sex

3.10.3 Taking leave
Employees can take parents leave, either one week at a time or take the two weeks together.

3.10.4 Making an application
Employees must make their request in writing to their manager six weeks before the date the
employee intends to start their leave, and:
• Indicate the expected start date and how long the leave will be
• In the situation where the employee spouse / partner is the parent taking maternity or
adoptive leave then our employee must include appropriate certification confirming
pregnancy and the expected date of confinement, or in the case of adoption the certificate
of placement.

3.10.5 Parent's Leave and Maternity Leave
Parent’s leave is separate to maternity leave. Parent’s leave cannot start while employees are on
maternity leave but can start from the day maternity leave ends. Employees must make a separate
application for parent’s leave.
3.10.6 Postponed Parent’s Leave
The company may seek to postpone parents leave under the following headings:
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