Child care leave - who is entitled to it? How to use it?

Each employee may take two paid days off during a calendar year to care for a child under 14 years of age. It's worth learning a little more about this privilege.

Child care – when can you use it?

The provisions of the Labor Code specify that each parent may take leave from work to care for a child. This type of leave is granted for the care of a healthy child who is under 14 years of age.

It is worth emphasizing that the employee does not have to justify the application submitted to the employer in any way. To obtain additional days off for child care, all you need to do is submit an appropriate application. It is the employer's responsibility to decide whether the employee will ultimately receive days off. Unless there are objective and important reasons for doing so, the employer should not reject the submitted application.

Parents who experience a sudden, unforeseen situation related to their child may also consider taking leave on request. The template with an explanation is available on the website https://aleo.com/pl/blog/wzory-dokumentow/urlop-na-zadanie-wzor-z-omowiniem/ .

Child care – how much is it?

An employee who wants to take leave to care for a child must remember that he or she is entitled to it for two days or 16 hours. Due to the fact that there are no limits on the number of days off, an employee can take two days off and divide them at his or her own discretion. You can also use it immediately after your holiday leave, treating it as an extension of your rest.

Persons who have decided to complete an application for child care specify in it whether they are entitled to leave in days or on an hourly basis. If the employee takes one day off in the first application, he or she will not be able to divide the next day into hours in the future.

Who can benefit from child care?

Each employee is entitled to two days related to child care, regardless of the type of employment contract, length of service and working time. Part-time employees will also be entitled to leave, but it will be expressed in hours - determined in proportion to the working time.

People who did not use leave to care for a child in a given year lose their right to it in the following year. Unused days do not carry over to the next year, and the employee cannot demand compensation from the employer for them.

Childcare leave is not the only benefit that working parents can take advantage of. Companies are increasingly offering other benefits, such as the famous travel holidays. What are pear tree holidays and how to take advantage of them? More information is available online.

Child care is leave that is intended to make life easier for working parents. Finally, it is worth emphasizing that only one parent has the right to take this type of leave. They may also decide to divide the days off - in such a situation, each of them can take one additional day off from work.