Parental leave is an employee benefit that entitles new mothers and fathers to time off work. It provides employees with job protection after the birth of a child or adoption. Parental leave policies are different in every country.

In some countries, employers may offer parental leave instead of maternity leave. In other countries, employers will offer parental leave and maternity leave. Parental leave laws and pay differ from one country to another.

To get a glimpse as to what parental leave looks like around the world, here are some examples:

• Estonia: Estonian employees are eligible for seven different types of parental leave, ranging from maternity leave, paternity leave, to adoption leave. In Estonia, maternity leave is paid by the government, whereas paternity leave is paid by the employer. In total, employees in Estonia are entitled to 435 days of parental leave.
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• Norway: Norwegian employees are entitled to either 49 weeks of fully paid parental leave or 59 weeks of partially paid parental leave. Each parent is entitled to 15 weeks, and then they can decide who gets the rest moving forward.
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• Lithuania: Aside from 126 days of paid maternity leave and 30 days of paid paternity leave, Lithuania allows employees to take parental leave. Parental leave can be taken before the child’s third birthday.  
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Parental leave can be offered with or without pay and the length of the leave ranges from a few weeks to a few months. It depends on the country requirements and the employer.

Offering parental leave benefits the employer, employee, as well as the community. Parental leave: 

• Allows parents to bond and spend time with their new child.
• Helps parents adjust to the new routine that is parenthood. This includes sleep changes and stress. 
• Boosts productivity when returning to the workplace.
• Increases employee retention rates.
• Reduces financial stress.
• Increases gender equality by allowing fathers to participate in the childcare duties while the mother returns to work.

Parental leave is taken after an employee gives birth, after an employee’s spouse gives birth, or if an employee adopts a child under a specific age. 

Parental leave eligibility should be included in the company’s leave policy. This guarantees transparency and clear communication. 
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Eligibility criteria for parental leave may include the following:

• The length of employment 
• If the employee works full-time or part-time
• The employee’s social security contributions
• Number of employees in the organization
• Proof of pregnancy or adoption
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