QuoteReplyTopic: Parental Leave Posted: 15 July 2011 at 12:47pm
Hi
After a bit of advice if there are any gurus around Parental Leave.
I'm currently employed on an ongoing longterm temporary contract (full time) as this is how my work hires people (through recruitment agencies) - They then offer permanent contracts when they feel like it.
I've been there a year next week full time, and have been told by my manager that I'm top of the list for a permanent contract. I'm just really worried, that when they find out I'm pregnant, they won't give me one. They haven't said any timeframe of when I will get a contract so it could be months away. And then I'm also worried that if I do get one late in the year... I won't have been technically working for the company for 6 months.
Anyone know what happens when you're on a temporary contract? Just in case I get left on one.
Temporary or fixed term contracts work the same as full time contacts as long as you meet the criteria:
- you have been there for a year at the time you take maternity leave (thus giving you the full entitlement)
- your contract does not expire while you are on maternity leave (or at least in the first 14 weeks - that means you can still get the govt maternity payments).
If you get rolled onto a permanent contract then you will still be entitled - because it is still with the same employer. They dont care what type of contract you are on, as long as you meet the hours and length criteria.
See the DOL site, it has really good information: http://dol.govt.nz/er/holidaysandleave/parentalleave/eligibility/fixedtermrights.asp
are you paid directly from the company or a agency? That could mean a difference if you are paid from the company - that would mean you are entitled to the PL
So I guess it would be best to not get a permanent position till I return to work.
Then again... they may decide to just end my contract before I take parental leave (wouldn't suprise me... they'd just say they were doing some restructuring etc)
If you've been employed by the same organisation (the agency) for 12 months or more, then you will still be entitled to PPL. You may have to talk to a solicitor (Public trust are good) to check what happens if they give you a permanent contract.
I would probably not tell them you are expecting until either the contract was finalised or you were reaching the deadline for applying for parental leave (I think 3 months before you want the leave to start).
If you have been employed continuously by the temp agency then that is still a valid contract - and if they are being nice about they may keep you on the books until after the 14 week period for govt payments. If they wanted to terminate your contract then that is up to them.
I would wait a little while and see what happens with your contract. But it does make things tricky.
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