What are the regulations for parental leave in Germany?

Parental leave (Elternzeit) in Germany is designed to support parents in balancing family and work life, providing them with the opportunity to take time off work to care for their newborn or adopted child. The rules surrounding parental leave are quite comprehensive and include the following key points:

Eligibility: Both parents have the right to take parental leave. This includes biological parents, adoptive parents, and, in certain circumstances, step-parents and grandparents, provided they have custody or are the primary caregivers.
Duration: Parents are entitled to up to three years of parental leave per child, which can be taken any time from birth until the child turns eight. The leave can be divided between the parents and taken in parts, but there are restrictions on the number of segments (generally up to three segments without the employer's consent).
Notification: Parents must notify their employers of their intention to take parental leave at least seven weeks before the leave is set to begin. If they wish to take leave immediately after birth, this notification should ideally be given well in advance.
Parental Allowance (Elterngeld): During parental leave, parents may apply for a parental allowance, which compensates for lost income. This allowance is paid for up to 14 months and can be divided between the parents. The amount ranges from 65% to 100% of the parent's net income before the birth, with a minimum of €300 and a maximum of €1,800 per month, depending on the parent's previous income.
Job Protection: Employees are protected from dismissal from the time they announce their pregnancy or the intention to take parental leave until the end of the parental leave. Upon returning to work, they are entitled to return to their previous job or a similar position with equivalent pay and conditions.
Part-Time Work: During parental leave, parents have the right to work part-time up to 30 hours per week. Employers can only deny this request under specific circumstances, and such a denial must be justified by significant operational reasons.
Sibling Bonus and Partners Months: The parental allowance includes incentives for families with multiple children (Geschwisterbonus) and encourages both parents to take leave (Partnermonate), with four of the fourteen months of parental allowance reserved exclusively for the second parent.

These rules are part of Germany's efforts to promote gender equality in childcare responsibilities and to facilitate a better work-life balance for working parents. Parents planning to take parental leave are advised to discuss their plans with their employer and to apply for parental allowance in a timely manner to ensure a smooth transition into and out of parental leave.

Horizons typ: employees are required to follow specific procedures when announcing their intention to take parental leave (Elternzeit). We recommend doing so well in advance to give all parties involved enough time to prepare.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to properly announce parental leave:

Timing: Employees must notify their employers of their intent to take parental leave at least seven weeks before the planned start of the leave. This advance notice is crucial for parents planning to take leave immediately after the birth or adoption of a child, as it allows employers sufficient time to make necessary arrangements.
Written Notice: The announcement to the employer must be made in writing. The notice should clearly state the start and end dates of the planned parental leave. If parents intend to take their parental leave in segments, they must also communicate the exact periods of each segment within this notification.
Parental Leave Periods: Parents can split their parental leave into three phases without requiring additional consent from their employer. If they wish to divide the leave into more than three phases, the employer’s consent is needed.
Declaration of Binding Nature: The notice must include a declaration that the employee will actually take the parental leave during the stated periods. Once submitted, the planned leave periods are binding for both the employee and the employer, meaning any changes to the leave dates would require mutual agreement.
Parental Allowance (Elterngeld): While the announcement to the employer is about the intention to take parental leave, employees should also separately apply for parental allowance at their local Elterngeldstelle (parental allowance office). This application is independent of the notification to the employer and has its own set of deadlines and requirements.
Considerations for Working Parents: Employees planning to work part-time during their parental leave should mention this in their notice. German law allows parents to work up to 30 hours per week during parental leave, but this intention must be communicated clearly, and in some cases, the employer's agreement might be necessary.

By following these steps, employees can ensure that they properly announce their parental leave in accordance with German law, helping to facilitate a smoother transition for both themselves and their employer.

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What are the regulations for parental leave in Germany?