Employment Relations FAQs
ask a question.
       
 
calculate your entitlement
application forms and letters
information for employees
who can take parental leave
what paid and unpaid leave is available and when does it start?
how do parental leave provisions in my employment agreement apply?
how do I apply for parental leave and payments?
what is my employer required to do?
summary paid and unpaid leave entitlement
what are the rights of people on fixed term agreements?
what should I do if I have a problem relating to my parental leave?
what are my options when my parental leave ends?
redundancy during pregnancy or parental leave
information for self-employed
additional information for adoptive parents
information for partners and fathers
information for employers
information for accountants and JPs
Your rights to infant feeding in the workplace
A Guide for Employers - Breastfeeding in the Workplace
A Guide for working parents - Striking a Balance

How do parental leave provisions in my employment agreement apply?

 
 
Get a printer-friendly fact sheet of this page.

Some employment agreements include parental leave provisions.

You may have a choice of parental leave provisions if your employment agreement has provisions that are as favourable as, or more favourable than, those provided by law.  This is lawful if the employment agreement has adequate arrangements for the following:

  • who can take parental leave
  • how long the various types of leave last
  • how well your job is protected during and after parental leave
  • what obligations, if any, your employer has to pay you during the leave
  • what procedures you have to follow.

Examples of enhancement to the statutory entitlements can include:

  • full income replacement from your employer for a period
  • lump sum payments on return to work
  • rights to return on flexible hours at the end of the leave period.

You can use your employment agreement leave provisions if they are as favourable or more favourable as those provided by law. Your employment agreement cannot change your eligibility for the government parental leave payments, however you can receive additional payments through your employment agreement.

If you need assistance clarifying your employment agreement entitlements, you can visit our FAQ Knowledgebase, or you can contact the Department of Labour on 0800 20 90 20 during business hours.

This page was last updated on: 12-Oct-2009 and is current.


home | holidays | pay | good faith | union matters | education & training | fact sheets | publications | parental leave | employment agreements | problem solving | collective bargaining

search our FAQs | sitemap | contact us | about this site | about ers | related sites | govt.nz

©2004 copyright | disclaimer | privacy statement | comment on this website | accessibility

Department of Labour.