2. Tell your employer when you’ll start your leave

You must give your employer a letter that says the day you want to start your parental leave. Your employer must get the letter at least 2 weeks before you want your leave to start.

If you're taking both pregnancy leave and parental leave, make sure your letter gives the start date for each leave. Or give your employer 2 letters, one for each leave.

It's also a good idea to say in your letter how long you plan to be on parental leave.

Changing the start date of your leave

If you change your mind about when you want to start your leave, you must give your employer a new letter telling them this.

Starting earlier

If you want to start your leave earlier, you must give your employer the new letter at least 2 weeks before you want your leave to start.

You can start your parental leave earlier than planned if:

• your child is born earlier than expected, or
• your adopted child arrives earlier than you expected.

If this happens, you must send your employer a new letter within 2 weeks from the day you stopped working. This letter must give the date that you started your parental leave.

Starting later

To start your leave later, you must give your employer the new letter at least 2 weeks before the date you first said your leave was going to start.

Keeping records

Keep copies of any letters and notes you give your employer, and record the dates you gave them to your employer.