What is parental leave?

If you have small children, you can work fewer hours or take a break from work for a few months or years. You can apply for parental leave for this. Fathers can also apply for parental leave!

It is important that the person looks after the child themselves or lives with a child in the same household.

When you apply for parental leave, you must inform your employer that you either do not want to work at all or you want to work for a maximum of 30 hours per week during the planned parental leave. Parental leave can last a maximum of 3 years.

Parental leave must always be applied for with the employer. Certain deadlines apply:

• Parental leave before the child's 3rd birthday: Parental leave must be registered at least 7 weeks in advance (start of parental leave).
• Parental leave in the period between the child's 3rd and 8th birthday: parental leave must be registered at least 13 weeks in advance (start of parental leave).