Page 46 - O'Kelly Sutton Employee Handbook June 23 Revision 2 2020

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:
• The seasonal variations in the volume of work
• The unavailability of another person to carry out the duties of the employee during the
leave
Period
• The nature of the duties referred to in (b),
• Staffing levels over the period of the requested leave

If an employee’s parent’s leave is to be postponed, the employee’s manager will consult with the
employee. The company will inform the employee in writing no later than 4 weeks before the
intended start date of the leave, the reason why the leave is been postponed will be included in this
letter. The company is aware that parents leave cannot be cancelled more than 12 weeks after the
start of the requested parents leave, and the purposed new date for parents must be agreed with the
employee.

3.10.7 While on parents leave
• This leave will be treated as being in employment and you are entitled to return to your job
after parent’s leave. (exactly as all other types of statutory leave for parents).
• Annual leave – you can build up annual leave while you are on parent’s leave.
• Public holidays – you are entitled to any public holidays that occur during your parent’s
leave.
• PRSI contributions – you can get credited PRSI contributions while you are on parent’s
leave.

3.10.8 Hospitalisation of a child
If the employee’s child is hospitalised and the parents leave has already started or before it starts, and
the employee would like to postpone the parents leave, the employees must put the request in writing
to their manager. All requests will be review and the employee notified as soon as possible of the
decision.

3.10.9 Death of a child
The death of the child does not affect the entitlement of the parent to parents leave (once within the
timeframe and they qualify as a relevant parent) even where notice in writing of the intention to take
the leave was not given.

3.10.10 Transferring Parents Leave
Where a relevant parent dies, a surviving parent is entitled to leave (referred to as transferred
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