PARENTAL LEAVE
| DENMARK |
| FORÆLDREORLOV PARENTAL LEAVE |
Term sometimes used to refer to the period of time off work to which parents are entitled after the birth of a child (see pregnancy and childbirth ). In addition to this, under the Leave Schemes Act the parents of children up to 8 years old are entitled to an uninterrupted period of leave from work of at least 13 and at most 26 weeks for the purpose of childcare. Uninterrupted periods of leave of at least 13 and at most 52 weeks may also be agreed voluntarily with the employer. The total duration of all such leave must not exceed 52 weeks. To cover the loss of pay during this absence from work, subject to certain conditions parents may receive the state childcare benefit (børnepasningsydelse), amounting to 70 per cent. of the maximum level of unemployment benefit. Employers who continue to pay employees during such absence may have the benefit refunded to them. The fact that an employee makes use of the entitlement to childcare leave does not constitute a valid reason for dismissal, and the period of leave counts towards the employee's continuous length of service. The purpose of the Act is to encourage work-sharing (see temporary replacement work ) by placing unemployed workers in the jobs left vacant during the periods of leave involved.
Please note: the European industrial relations glossaries were compiled between 1991 and 2003 and are not updated. For current material see the European industrial relations dictionary.