If the partner of an employee gives birth, the employee is entitled to one week’s partner leave following the birth. This paid leave can be taken at any time in the first four weeks after the birth of the child. During this period of leave the employer must continue to pay 100% of the employee’s salary.
From 1 July 2020, partners can take up to five weeks’ additional leave (i.e. five times the number of working hours per week). During the additional leave the partner is not entitled to salary. Instead, the partner receives payment from the UWV. These payments amount to 70% of the daily wages and are capped at 70% of the maximum daily wages, which from 1 July 2020, are EUR 219.28 gross (EUR 4,769.34/month). The employer needs to apply for the benefit payment.
The following conditions apply:
- The child is born on or after 1 July 2020.
- The standard one-week partner leave has to be taken first.
- The additional partner leave has to be taken in the first six months after the birth.
- The additional leave has to be requested at least four weeks before the start date. The request should include the time that the employee wants to take leave (e.g. this can be made dependent upon the date of birth), the number of weeks leave to be taken and the distribution of the hours.
Employers can, after consultation with the employee, change the days/weeks partner leave requested by the employee up to two weeks before the leave is due to commence. An employer can only make such changes for compelling business reasons, which are not easily accepted. Where there is a compelling business reason the employer must agree alternative days/weeks with the employee.
Please do not hesitate to contact one of our team members should you have any questions on the above.
