Mandatory leave for new fathers
New dad leave was introduced in 2013 and in 2018 allows dads to stay home for 4 days on full pay within the baby’s first 5 months.
Since 2019, the proposal to renew it has been under consideration.
The leave of new fathers until 2018
How many days are rightfully entitled to the father as compulsory leave and how many are voluntary?
With the 2017 Budget law, from 2018 new fathers are entitled to 4 days of mandatory paternity leave (and no longer two) and 1 day of optional leave .
How can new fathers take advantage of parental leave?
The compulsory leave of new fathers is their right (when the father is an employee ) and is additional to that of the mother. The 4 days can be used continuously or not, within the first 5 months from the date of birth of the child (or from the entry of the adopted or entrusted child).
Therefore, based on the birth or entry into the family of the child, two compulsory leave situations arise:
- two mandatory days, even non-continuous, for fathers of children born (adopted or fostered) by 31 December 2017
- 4 mandatory days , even non-continuous, for children born (or adopted or fostered) from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018.
The only day of optional leave depends on the mother . The father can take advantage of it if the mother decides not to use a day of maternity leave.
Both compulsory and optional leave must be taken within the child’s first 5 months.
Paid for leave
The days of compulsory and optional leave are paid 100% by INPS (they are advanced by the employer who then recovers them through UNIEMENS).
The application for the use of the leave must be made to the employer.
The father must notify the company of the days in which he wishes to be absent for compulsory and optional leave. This communication must take place at least 15 days before the chosen dates.
If the father wishes to take advantage of it in conjunction with the birth, the advance notice will be determined on the basis of the presumed date of the birth .
If the father decides to take advantage of the optional day of leave, he must also attach to the application the mother’s declaration in which he renounces the same day of maternity leave. This declaration must also be sent to the new mother’s employer.
Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.
Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.