Page 51 - O'Kelly Sutton Employee Handbook June 23 Revision 2 2020

of service.
• You will continue to accrue holidays during Parental Leave.
• Any Parental leave will be unpaid.
• Any period of probation, training or apprenticeship may be suspended by the
Company at its discretion whilst you are on Parental Leave.
• On your return you will be entitled to return to your previous job or position, or if that
previous job or position is not your usual job or position, you will be entitled to return
to work either to that job or your usual job or position as soon as practicable.
• If because of an interruption or cessation of work at the date of expiry of Parental
Leave it is unreasonable to expect you to return at that date, you may return to work
as soon as reasonably practicable after the resumption of work.
• If it is not practicable to allow you to return to work the Company will offer you
suitable alternative work on terms or conditions of employment, which are not
substantially less favourable to you.
•

3.16 PATERNITY LEAVE
The company offers Paternity Leave for a 2-week period of work to fathers following the birth or
adoption of a child, in the first 6 months after the birth or adoption of the child. The company will
not pay employees on Paternity Leave; however, employees may qualify for Paternity Benefit.

3.16.1 Rules about Paternity Leave
The following are deemed the Relevant Parents under the legislation:
• The father of the child
• The partner (spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant) of the mother of the child
• The parent of a donor-conceived child

For an adopted child, the relevant parent is:
• The nominated parent in the case of a married same-sex couple, or
• The partner of the adopting mother, or
• A man adopting alone

If more than one child is born or adopted at the same time (such as twins), you can take only one
single period of 2 weeks’ paternity leave.

Employees who apply for Paternity Leave may qualify for Paternity Benefit from the Department of
Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP).

3.16.2 Taking Paternity Leave
Paternity leave can be taken any time in the 26 weeks after the birth or adoption. The employee must
notify their manager in writing that you plan to take paternity leave and specify the dates at least 4
weeks before the start date of the paternity leave. The employees must provide a certificate from
your partner’s doctor stating when your baby is due or stating the baby’s actual date of birth if you
apply for leave after the birth.

In the case of adoption, the employee must provide a certificate of placement showing the date
when the child was placed with the employee.

3.16.3 Postponing Paternity Leave
Employees can postpone paternity leave if, for example, the birth is later than expected or if there is
a delay in the placement of an adopted child. If the employee is sick before their paternity leave

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