Childbirth related leave
Childbirth related leave
Pregnancy leave
Pregnancy leave cf. the Maternity Act § 3 is 4 weeks. The pregnancy leave starts 4 weeks before the due date.
Pregnancy leave can only be taken by the pregnant person.
Maternity leave
Maternity leave cf. the Maternity act § 3 no. 2, is usually 15 weeks. If the birth is of more than one child, the maternity leave is 19 weeks.
Maternity leave is taken in direct connection to the pregnancy leave. The maternity leave starts when the child is born.
Maternity leave can only be taken by the mother.
Paternity leave
Paternity leave cf. the Maternity Act § 7 is 3 weeks. The paternity leave is taken within the 15 or 19 weeks of maternity leave.
Only the father or the co-mother can take paternity leave.
Parental leave
Parental leave cf. the Maternity Act §12 is 21 weeks. If the birth is of more than one child, the parental leave is 25 weeks.
Parental leave can be shared among the parents as they wish.
Leave when adopting
Before receiving the child
According to the Maternity Act § 8, adopters have a right to 15 weeks of leave in immediate connection to receiving the child.
Within these 15 weeks the adopters have the right to have 3 connecting weeks simultaneously.
The additional weeks can only be held one adopter at a time.
After receiving the child
Adopters, who receive 2 or more children simultaneously, have a right to 19 weeks of leave. Within the 19 weeks the adopters have a right to 3 connecting weeks simultaneously. The additional weeks can only be taken one adopter at a time.
Kept parental leave
According to the Maternity Act § 14, the last 4 weeks of either the 21 or 25 weeks of parental leave, can be postponed until the child turns 5 years old, in agreement with the employee’s employer.
The postponed leave has to be taken for at least one whole week at a time.