Parental leave means taking a break from professional life to spend more time at home with your child or children. Parental leave is regulated by the Federal Parental Allowance and Parental Leave Act (BEEG): the law governing parental allowance and parental leave.
As an employee of Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences, you can apply for parental leave.
The general entitlement lasts until your child reaches the age of three. Part of this leave can also be taken between your child's 3rd and 8th birthday, up until the child turns eight.
During this time, you can take up to three years off work per child. While you are not required to work, you will not receive a salary. However, you can apply for parental allowance to compensate for the loss of income.
Parents are free to decide who takes parental leave. Both parents can take parental leave simultaneously or consecutively.
The maternity protection period (up to 8 weeks after birth) is counted toward the total possible duration of three years of parental leave. The father’s parental leave can begin at the birth of the child and overlap with the mother’s maternity protection period. Fathers who wish to start their parental leave immediately after the birth should indicate "from birth" as the start date in their application.
During parental leave, you are entitled to special protection against dismissal.
If desired, you can work during parental leave—however, a maximum of 30 hours per week, or 32 hours per week for parents whose child was born on or after September 1, 2021.
The type of employment contract does not affect your entitlement to parental leave. Whether it is a fixed-term contract, a mini-job, or home office, all employees are eligible for parental leave.
Parental leave must be requested in writing at least seven weeks before it begins at the Department of Budget and Human Resources. This also applies if parental leave is to start immediately after the birth (e.g., the father's leave) or the maternity protection period.
There are specific forms of parental leave for civil servants. For state civil servants at Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences, the regulations of the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate apply. You can obtain further information from the Department of Budget and Human Resources through your designated HR officer ([Link]).
Additionally, it is worth reviewing the State Law, specifically the Vacation Regulation of Rhineland-Palatinate, §19, as it includes an additional provision for civil servants.