Glossary

Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act 1987

Government legislation that provides equal rights for paid and unpaid parental leave. The act clearly sets out the criteria employees have to meet to be eligible for parental leave. It also provides job protection for employees before, during and after they take parental leave.

For employers, the act sets out the guidelines employers and employees must follow when negotiating on the provisions of parental leave. This includes the start and end time of the parental leave, whether the leave will be paid or unpaid, and how well the job is protected during and after parental leave.