Maternity protection/parental leave
Maternity protection
Expectant mothers may only be employed in the last six weeks before giving birth with their consent.
After giving birth, employment is prohibited for eight weeks or twelve weeks in the case of premature and multiple births. In the case of medical premature births and other premature births, the maternity protection period after the birth is extended by the days that could not be taken before the birth.
Outside of the general protection periods, the Maternity Protection Act provides for general employment bans (e.g. piecework, assembly line, overtime, Sunday or night work) and individual employment bans based on a medical certificate to protect the expectant mother and her child.
Holiday entitlements also arise during periods of absence due to employment prohibitions under maternity protection law (therefore also during maternity protection periods). It is not permitted to reduce holiday leave due to employment bans under maternity protection law.
Please submit proof of pregnancy with the calculated date of birth to the responsible HR officer (with your consent, please also submit a copy of your maternity record showing the calculated date of birth).
Further information on these topics can be found in the information brochure of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.
Parental leave
Parental leave is available until the child/children turn 3 (1 day before their 3rd birthday). Each parent can claim parental leave - regardless of the extent to which the partner takes parental leave. In principle, parental leave can also be taken independently of parental allowance. Please note that parental allowance is granted in months of life. The maternity protection period for the mother is counted towards the possible three-year total duration of parental leave.
The applicant must declare for which periods within 2 years parental leave is to be taken. Parental leave can be spread over 3 periods. For births from 1 July 2015, a period of up to 24 months can be taken between the 3rd birthday and the age of 8. Part-time employment of up to 32 hours per week is possible during parental leave. Part-time work for another employer or self-employment requires the employer's consent.
Parental leave can be terminated prematurely with the employer's consent or extended in accordance with Section 15 Para. 2 BEEG
Deadlines
Parental leave between the birth and the 3rd birthday of the child/children must be requested in writing from the employer at least 7 weeks before the start of the leave. If parental leave is to begin with the birth of the child (e.g. parental leave for the father), the application must be made at least seven weeks before the expected date of birth.
For births from 1 July 2015, the registration period for parental leave for the period between the 3rd birthday and the child/children's 8th birthday is 13 weeks.
Part-time employment for family reasons following parental leave must be applied for separately.
To apply for parental leave, please use the forms provided for this purpose.
Further information