Pregnancy and Parental Leave

Expecting a child is a very special event in life. However, before the child arrives, there are many things that need to be planned, considered and calculated. Information, talks and ideas can be helpful in that situation.

Once the child is born, things often look different. Plans need to be adapted. The aim is to build a stable, yet flexible family organisation, to plan a smooth re-entry to the workplace, and ultimately, to achieve a work-family balance.

• If an employee notifies you of her pregnancy, please note that maternity protection leave beginns eight weeks (at the latest) before the planned date of birth and lasts until eight weeks (minimum) after the day of birth.
   
• After that, the employee is entitled to parental leave until the child’s 2nd birthday. Under certain conditions, she may have a legal entitlement to part-time work for parents until the child’s 7th birthday.
  →Legal Information on parental leave
   
• Irrespective of whether parental leave is claimed or not, some forms of childcare allowances make marginal employment or further additional earnings possible.
   
• If possible, talk to your employee about her planning of re-entry to the workplace and discuss dates, work hours and content with her.
   
• If possible, make an appointment, ideally during the first few months of parental leave, to discuss the plan and to possibly adapt it.
  →Leitfaden berufliche Auszeiten
   
• Which work-related contents are going to be handed over/completed/continued? Are you going to stay in touch? If so, how often and by whom?
   
• Please do not hesitate to contact us, if questions arise.

• Notification of pregnancy needs to be given as soon as possible, but by the 12th week at the latest. The maternity protection period begins eight weeks (at the latest) before the planned date of birth and ends eight weeks (at the earliest) after the day of birth. During this time, you receive maternity allowance and are fully insured.
   
• After the maternity protection period has expired, you can take maternity leave until the child's 2nd birthday. Under certain conditions, you may have a legal entitlement to part-time work for parents until the child’s 7th birthday.
  →Legal information on parental leave
   
• Prepare to talk to your superior and think about possible leaving scenarios, hand-over modalities and arrangements for substitutes; are you going to stay in touch, are you going to keep your e-mail account and use it?
  →Leitfaden berufliche Auszeiten
   
• Irrespective of whether you claim parental leave or not, some forms of childcare allowances make marginal employment or further additional earnings possible. However, during parental leave as defined by labour law, earnings must not exceed the marginal earnings threshold. Recipients of childcare allowances are fully insured.
   
• Adapt your re-entry to the workplace to suit your family context and its requirements. Find a suitable childcare arrangement in good time and plan a certain time period for the child’s familiarisation.
  →Childcare? WANTED!
   
• Various flexible childcare options may be of use in addition to or in place of a family network.
  →Flexible childcare
   
• unikid & unicare hands over a welcome package containing information and small gifts to all new parents.
   
• Please do not hesitate to contact us, if questions arise.