Page 40 - Zeus Employee Handbook

3.9.2 Time off for antenatal and postnatal care
You are entitled to take paid time off during your normal working hours for medical or related
appointments (defined as appointments for the purpose of an examination or test under the direction
of a registered medical practitioner) and you are also entitled to take paid time off for medical or
related appointments up to 22 weeks after the birth of your child (at least two weeks of your minimum
period of maternity leave of twenty six weeks must be taken before, and four weeks taken after the
birth of your child), although wherever possible you should arrange your appointments at the start or
end of your working day to minimise disruption to the Company.

3.9.3 Qualifying Conditions
In order to avail of paid time off as specified above, you must notify the Company of the appointment
as soon as practicable, and in any event not later than two weeks before the date of the appointment
unless this is not possible through no fault of your own.

You should advise a MANAGER that you will be absent as far in advance of your appointment as
possible and you may be asked to produce your appointment card.

3.9.4 Minimum maternity leave
You are entitled to a 26-week period of minimum maternity leave irrespective of your length of service
or the number of hours you work each week. During this minimum maternity you may be entitled to
Maternity Benefit (MB) from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

3.9.5 Extension of maternity leave
Where your date of confinement occurs after the expected date of confinement (as defined in the
Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993 the minimum period of maternity is extended if necessary by
up to four weeks to ensure that you have four weeks of maternity leave after the birth of your child.

3.9.6 Additional maternity leave
You are also entitled to take a further period of 16 weeks’ unpaid maternity leave, irrespective of
whether you have taken an extension of maternity leave, but this period is not covered by maternity
benefit either from social welfare or from the company.

3.9.7 Health and Safety Leave
If due to the Provisions of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005 and the Safety, Health &
Welfare at Work (General Applications) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 it is necessary to place you
on Health and Safety leave on grounds of pregnancy, recently giving birth or breast feeding you will
be paid for the first 3 days. Thereafter you may be entitled to Social Welfare Benefits.

3.9.8 Father’s entitlement to maternity leave
Fathers are only entitled to maternity leave if the mother dies within 24 weeks of the birth. In these
tragic circumstances, the father may be entitled to a period of leave, the extent of which depends on
the actual date of the mother's death. Where a father qualifies for leave under these circumstances,
he also has an optional right to the additional maternity leave.

3.9.9 Paternity Leave and Paternity Benefit
The Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016 provides for statutory paternity leave of 2 weeks. The
provisions apply to births and adoptions on or after 1 September 2016. You can start unpaid paternity
leave at any time within the first 6 months following the birth or adoption placement. You may qualify
for Paternity Benefit from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection if you have

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