If you have completed one year's service with your employer, you're entitled to 13 weeks' unpaid parental leave for each child born or adopted. The leave can start once your child is born or placed for adoption with you, or as soon as you have completed a year's service, whichever is later. You can take it at any time up to your child's fifth birthday (or until five years after placement in the case of adoption). If your child has disabilities, you can take 18 weeks up to your child's 18th birthday.

You will remain employed while on parental leave and some terms of your contract, such as contractual notice and redundancy terms, still apply. At the end of parental leave you have the right to return to the same job as before or, if that is not practicable, as similar job with the same or better status and terms and conditions. If you take leave for a period of four weeks (the maximum yearly entitlement) or less, you're entitled to go back to the same job.

For further information, see Time Off for Dependants on BERR.gov.uk (opens in a new window)

Employees remain employed while on parental leave and some terms of their contract, such as contractual notice and redundancy terms, still apply. At the end of parental leave they have the right to return to the same job as before or, if that is not practicable, as similar job with the same or better status and terms and conditions. Where leave is taken for a period of four weeks or less, the employee is entitled to go back to the same job.

Yes. All employees are entitled to a reasonable time off work without pay, to deal with an emergency involving a dependant. For example, if a dependant falls ill or is injured, if care arrangements break down, or to arrange or attend a dependant's funeral.

For further information, see Time Off for Dependants on BERR.gov.uk (opens in a new window)

For further advice and guidance please call the Acas Helpline – 08457 47 47 47