The birth of a child is a major event, and you will surely want to spend your child's first moments in the world with them. In this situation, you are entitled to 2 days of special leave with pay. To use it, inform your supervisor of your intention and submit an appropriate special leave request in the Workday system. Once the request is received, the HRS team will make the necessary changes in Workday. The employee does not make these changes themselves.

In addition to special leave, every father can also take paternity leave of up to 2 weeks after the birth of a child. The same right applies to adoptive fathers. Paternity leave can be taken later, but no later than the child's first birthday. You can decide whether to take the 2 weeks of leave all at once or split it into two equal parts of 1 week each. Paternity leave is counted as 7 or 14 calendar days (including weekends). To use the leave, fill out the paternity leave application and send it to the HRS team.

You can email a scan of the application, but also remember to deliver the original document using the mailbox in the Mailroom on the 2nd floor or by post to the address: MMC Group Services Sp. z o.o., Prosta 68, 00-838 Warsaw, with the note "HRS".

Parental Leave

In 2023, the right to parental leave (maternity allowance for the period corresponding to parental leave) became independent of the mother's employment status (insurance due to illness and maternity) at the time of the child's birth. This means that a working father can start using the leave (maternity allowance for this leave period) either right after the child is born or later – up to the end of the calendar year in which the child turns 6 years old.

The Labor Code stipulates that working parents are entitled to parental leave of up to 41 weeks for the birth of one child or 43 weeks for multiple births. This leave entitlement is shared between both working parents. Each parent has an exclusive right to 9 weeks of parental leave. This non-transferable portion of the leave is available to both the working mother and father. The remaining leave (23 or 25 weeks) can be divided between the parents according to their preferences.

Shared Rights with the Mother

Fathers raising a child also have rights that they can share with the child's mother, including:

• Part of maternity leave or leave under maternity leave conditions: The first 14 weeks of maternity leave are exclusively for the mother. The remaining part can be shared with the father.

• Parental leave: After using maternity leave or maternity allowance for the period corresponding to maternity leave, the working father is entitled to parental leave of up to 32 weeks (for the birth of one child) or 34 weeks (for multiple births). Parental leave is available to both parents or one of them if they decide so. It can be taken all at once or in up to five parts.

• Childcare leave: An employee with at least 6 months of employment is entitled to childcare leave to personally care for a child. Previous employment periods count towards the 6-month requirement. The leave duration is up to 36 months, ending no later than the calendar year when the child turns 6. If a child needs personal care due to health issues confirmed by a disability certificate, an additional 36 months of leave can be granted, but no later than the child's 18th birthday. This leave is shared between both parents or guardians. Each parent/guardian has an exclusive right to one month of the leave, which is non-transferable.

• Reduced working hours: An employee eligible for childcare leave can request reduced working hours to no less than half-time during the period they could have taken the leave. The request should be submitted 21 days before starting work at reduced hours.

• Prohibition on overtime and night work: An employer cannot require a father caring for a child to work overtime, at night, in a shift system, or delegate them outside their regular workplace without their consent, applicable until the child turns 8. If both parents are employed, only one can use these rights.

• Leave for childcare up to 14 years old: Each parent is entitled to 2 days or 16 hours of leave per calendar year for caring for a child up to 14 years old, with pay. Parents can decide whether to use it as days or hours.

Longer Childcare

If you wish to take a longer leave to care for your child, you can take over part of the maternity leave from the mother (after she uses at least 14 weeks) and parental or childcare leave. More information on these leaves is available in the LEAVE TYPES section.

• Sick leave for a child's illness: If your child is ill, you can take leave based on a medical certificate. This leave is unpaid but eligible for a childcare allowance if you submit form Z-15a. The maximum allowance period is 60 days per year for children up to 14 years old or 14 days for older children.

• Childcare allowance for unforeseen events: If your child under 8 years old faces unforeseen events (e.g., nursery/school closure, illness of the other parent/caregiver/nanny), you can take leave with a childcare allowance if you submit form Z-15a. The maximum allowance period is 60 days per year.

• Leave for a healthy child: Each working parent of a child up to 14 years old is entitled to 2 paid days or 16 hours of leave per calendar year for caring for a healthy child. Parents can use this leave as days or hours, and it does not increase with the number of children.

• Force Majeure Leave: A working father can take leave due to force majeure for urgent family matters caused by illness or accident, requiring the employee's immediate presence, for up to 2 days or 16 hours per calendar year, with half-pay (calculated as for vacation leave).

Z-15 A_child_Care Allowance Request PL

Parent or Legal Guardian Statement