Maternity / Paternity Leave

[AshasMum]

Hi everyone,

I haven't done this before, so hoping someone might be able to offer some advice on how to go about it.

In regards to maternity leave, DH and I are entitled to a total of 52 weeks unpaid leave between the two of us. I am planning on starting my leave at 36 weeks, a month before my due date, then returning to work after approximately six months. DH will then be taking the remaining five or so months unpaid leave.

I know that I need to provide a doctors note to my workplace stating my due date, and give ten weeks notice of starting my leave. I am unsure however what DH needs to do for his workplace? At a guess, I would imagine he would also need a doctors note stating the due date, as well as a stat dec stating when I am commencing my leave (the month before). Then I gather he would also need to give the ten weeks notice of starting his leave.

Has anyone else here shared the leave? I've always known it can be done, but have personally only ever known the mother to take maternity leave.

Thanks in advance everyone!


Sarah

[joji]

I imagine it will depend on his workplace's policy - at my workplace partners can take it only as 'leave without pay', if it's over the 3 weeks of paid paternity leave they get. So they just go through the standard application process for leave without pay, rather than anything baby-specific.

[twistedsista]

All you need to do is get a dr certificate for him. Something like this:


To whom it may concern,

This is to certifiy that (YOUR NAME) is pregnant. Estimated date of birth is (Due date).

dr to sign or midwife.


Then attach a letter from him saying:

As per attached Drs certificate, my wife is expecting our child due in ______. I wish to take unpaid parental leave from (start date to finish date).

During this time I will be the primary carer of our child.


Its important that you put he will be the primary carer during this time as they automaticall assume the mother is and this lets them know that he will be the major child carer while you go back to work.

Thats all we did and DP works for NSW health.

HTH

[daysea]

My husband and I shared leave too.

He took his long service leave and annual leave though.

He also worked for NSW health but didnt have to do anything to tell them what he was doing. Perhaps thats because he used all his as leave though so was being paid as on leave not on paternity leave I suppose.

Sorry thats no help at all is it

Kim

[AshasMum]

That's great guys! Thanks for your help

Great to know we're not the only ones to share leave as well - I've always known the option is there, but it's not really considered the "norm", at least with people I know IRL.

Have a great Wednesday!


Sarah

[TimeTraveller]

Originally Posted by daysea

My husband and I shared leave too.

He took his long service leave and annual leave though.

He also worked for NSW health but didnt have to do anything to tell them what he was doing. Perhaps thats because he used all his as leave though so was being paid as on leave not on paternity leave I suppose.

Sorry thats no help at all is it

Kim

if he had opted to take parental leave you would have had to declare that you were not taking parental leave together.....

Generally speaking you are not allowed to take "parental leave" at the same time as your partner - other than the 2weeks the non-birthing partner is offered (the amount varies but in public sector it is around 2 weeks half pay) - that's NSW Health policy