Access to Parental Leave
In the United States, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) guarantees eligible employees the right to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year, which can be used for parental leave. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of March 2021, 23% of private-sector and civilian employees had access to paid leave, while 89% had access to unpaid family leave.
Check with your supervisor or human resources department to see if you qualify for paid parental leave.
What to Include in Your Parental Leave Letter
By the time you write your official parental leave letter, you may have already notified your employer of the news, including the dates you expect to be absent from work. However, it’s important to be thorough in your letter as it will serve as your formal notification.
“Be sure to mention the nature of your request, whether it’s for maternity leave, paternity leave, or adoption leave,” advises Richard Smith, senior human resources director at Nota.
Note: The type of leave you take may affect the length of your absence. For example, if you are giving birth, your employer may grant you more leave time compared to non-birthing parents.
Communicate the dates you will be absent and keep the leave process as simple as possible for both you and your employer.
Children rarely arrive on schedule. The actual dates you will be absent may differ from what you mentioned in your letter. However, if you provide estimated dates, your employer will be better able to plan for your absence.
Plan for Your Absence
Inform your employer if you have made any plans to ensure that your work is covered during your absence. “By including all of this information in advance, you can help ensure a smooth and seamless transition for you and your employer,” says Smith.
To facilitate matters for your employer, you might consider including a proposal on how your work will be covered during your absence, how to transition your responsibilities to someone else while you are away, and how to return to work once your leave is over.
Including this information may give your employer more peace of mind regarding coverage during your absence, as well as your plans for returning after the leave. Additionally, it can give you the opportunity to request special accommodations, such as working from home for a certain period or returning part-time before resuming your regular schedule.
Ultimately, your parental leave letter should aim to reach a consensus among everyone involved to avoid any unpleasant surprises or misunderstandings when it’s time for your leave.
When to Write Your Parental Leave Letter
The next thing to consider when writing your parental leave letter is timing. Some workers may delay informing their employer of the big news for fear of their reaction. However, the more notice you give, the smoother the process will be for everyone.
“The best time to communicate with your employer about your pregnancy is as soon as you find out, or whenever you’re ready to share the news,” says Smith. “This way, your employer can start planning for your leave and ensure coverage is in place.”
Although the parental leave letter serves as formal notice of your upcoming absence, employees can choose to share the news with their employer verbally first. However, you should still send your letter and request parental leave from your manager as soon as possible. Make sure you provide your employer with the required notice.
Required Notice
Depending on your state, your employer, and the type of leave you plan to take, you may be required to provide a certain amount of notice. Under the FMLA, employees are generally required to give at least 30 days’ notice, as long as they are able to do so.
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Some states have their own requirements, depending on their parental leave laws. Some companies may have minimum notice requirements if you wish to take paid parental leave.
Communication While on Leave
Stay in touch with your employer from time to time while you are away. “During your leave, it’s important to stay in contact with your employer to update them on your status and inform them of when you’ll be returning,” according to Smith. “By keeping the lines of communication open, you can help ensure a smooth transition back to work.”
You can check in during your leave. However, you may want to notify your employer or manager when the baby officially arrives, or just check in with them as your return-to-work date approaches.
Sample Paternity Leave Request Letter
Starting a letter like this can be the most challenging part. The letter below can be a template you use when writing your own paternity leave request.
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Date]
[Manager’s Name]
[Company Name]
[Manager’s Address]
Dear [Name],
This letter is to inform you that I [and my partner] are expecting a child, and I intend to take paternity leave. The expected due date is [date]. I plan to continue working until [date] or until the baby is born, whichever comes first. I intend to take [number] weeks of paternity leave, with an expected return-to-work date of [date].
During my absence, I suggest that [co-worker’s name] be responsible for [specific projects or tasks, possibly naming different co-workers for different tasks]. I am happy to take time to prepare them for the work.
When I return from my paternity leave, I will be able to come back [full-time, part-time, working from home]. At that time, I can resume [projects or tasks] again. At that time, I will work with [co-worker’s name] to get information on the current status of everything.
While I am on paternity leave, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at [personal email address] or [personal phone number], and I will respond when I am able. I will stay in touch throughout my leave to ensure a smooth return to work.
Please let me know if there are any additional information or forms you need before my paternity leave. If anything changes regarding my leave status or dates, I will keep you informed.
Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Your Name]
Conclusion
It’s easy to find yourself worrying about your manager or team’s reaction to your paternity leave news. In a work-centered society, many find themselves feeling guilty or as if they’re letting their team down when they take time to rest. But it’s likely that the people you work with will be supportive and excited for you. The more communication, the smoother the transition for everyone involved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is entitled to paternity leave?
In the United States, all workers covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) are entitled to 12 weeks of unpaid leave during the year. The FMLA applies to employers with 50 or more employees and to employees who have worked for them for at least 12 months and 1250 hours in the past 12 months, and at a location that has at least 50 employees within a 75-mile radius. Additionally, some companies that are not required to comply with the FMLA may offer paternity leave to their employees.
Which country offers the best paternity leave?
Estonia offers the best paternity leave, with up to about 82 weeks available. A new mother can take 140 days of fully paid maternity leave. After that, fathers are entitled to parental benefits for 435 days, which they can take for themselves or share with their partner or family member.
Source:
https://www.thebalancemoney.com/tell-company-about-maternity-leave-3545285
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