A law change means new rules for parental leave from June 2017. Changes include when a new parent can take parental leave payments, and what happens if a baby is born prematurely.
New leave rules
When: 1 June 2017.
What: Parents who want to get parental leave payments can choose to first use other types of paid leave they’re entitled to, eg:
-
annual leave
-
alternative days
-
special leave
-
time off in lieu.
They can choose to start their 18-week parental leave payment period once they have taken other types of paid leave , even if this is after the child’s arrival.
Previously the parental leave payment period couldn’t start later than the child’s arrival.
Premature babies
When: 1 June 2017.
What: If a working parent is applying for or getting parental leave payments and their baby arrives before the end of 36 weeks’ pregnancy, they can get:
-
preterm baby payments for up to 13 weeks
-
parental leave payments when they go back on parental leave , if it’s no later than the original expected due date.
If they go back to work for a period between the preterm baby being born and the original expected due date of the baby , other than for their keeping in touch hours , they will lose any remaining entitlement to preterm payments.
But they’ll still be entitled to up to 18 weeks’ parental leave payments , or however many weeks are remaining , if they’ve stopped work before the original expected due date and if the baby hadn’t been born prematurely.
For more information on parental leave, go to the Employment New Zealand website.