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ARTICLE · 22 MAY 2019

The Juggling Act

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The proposal for an EU Directive on Work-Life Balance for parents and family carers aims to provide greater flexibility to people in terms of leave and better balance between work and life.

IrelandEmployment and HR
Ciara Ní Longaigh
Ciara Ní Longaigh
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The proposal for an EU Directive on Work-Life Balance ("the Directive") for parents and family carers aims to provide greater flexibility to people in terms of leave and better balance between work and life. This Directive will overhaul (and ultimately repeal) the existing framework around paternity, parental and carers' leave from the EU. The Directive is part of an overall initiative of the EU to support parents and carers in the labour market and to better share such leave between men and women equally. From an Irish perspective, we are ahead of the curve, with many of the proposed changes already in place, or on the way in the coming months.

Paternity Leave

Irish parents (other than the mother of the child) are entitled to two weeks' leave from work following the birth or adoption of their child. This leave can start at any time within the first six months of the birth or adoption of the child. Payment from an employer for this leave depends on the employee's

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