Glossary
Parental leave
Parental leave is paid or unpaid time off work granted to employees around the birth or adoption of a child, covering maternity, paternity and shared leave entitlements set by law.
Reviewed by Teamed's in-house employment-law team·Last updated 24 June 2026
What is Parental leave?
Parental leave is a statutory right giving employees time away from work around the birth, adoption or fostering of a child. It covers maternity leave (for the birth parent), paternity leave (for the other parent or partner) and, in some countries, a shared pot of days that either parent can take. Entitlements vary widely: Sweden offers 480 days of paid leave shared between both parents, the UK provides up to 52 weeks of maternity leave with 39 weeks of pay, Germany gives 14 weeks of fully paid Mutterschutz plus up to 3 years of job-protected Elternzeit, and the United States has no federal paid parental leave law at all, relying on unpaid Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protections for eligible workers. When you hire internationally, you must meet the statutory minimum in each country. Teamed's in-house employment-law team tracks these rules across every market so your employees always receive what the law requires.
What types of parental leave exist?
Most countries split parental leave into maternity leave for the birth parent, paternity leave for the other parent or partner, and shared parental leave where a pool of weeks can be split between both parents. Some countries also have adoption leave and special rules for multiple births.
How does parental leave differ between countries?
Entitlements range from generous paid schemes like Sweden's 480 shared days to the US, which has no federal paid parental leave at all. Duration, pay replacement rate and who funds the benefit vary by country, so you need country-specific advice before making any offer to an international hire.
Who pays for parental leave?
Funding models differ. In the UK, employers pay Statutory Maternity Pay and reclaim most of it from HMRC. In Germany, health insurers pay Mutterschaftsgeld and employers top up the remainder. In Sweden, the state social insurance agency Försäkringskassan pays directly. The US has no federal fund, so cost falls to employers or state schemes where they exist.
What do you need to do as an international employer?
You must apply the statutory minimum in each country where you have employees. That means tracking local rates, notice requirements and return-to-work protections. Getting this wrong can lead to claims and fines. Using a global employment platform like Teamed means these obligations are built into every employment contract from day one.
Key facts
- UK Statutory Maternity Pay duration
- 39 weeksFirst 6 weeks at 90% of average weekly earnings, then 33 weeks at the lower of £194.32 or 90% of earnings (from April 2026).Source: GOV.UK Maternity pay and leave· verified 2026-06-24
- Sweden shared parental leave
- 480 daysShared between both parents; 390 days are paid at approximately 80% of qualifying income via Försäkringskassan. 90 days per parent are reserved and non-transferable.Source: Försäkringskassan – Parental benefit· verified 2026-06-24
- US federal paid parental leave
- None (private sector)The federal FMLA provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible private-sector employees. Federal government employees receive up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave.Source: US Department of Labor – Family and Medical Leave Act· verified 2026-06-24
Parental leave by country: a snapshot
| Country | Primary leave | Duration | Pay rate | Funded by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | Shared parental leave | 480 days shared | ~80% of income for 390 days | State (Försäkringskassan) |
| Germany | Mutterschutz + Elternzeit | 14 weeks statutory + up to 3 years job-protected | Full net pay for 14 weeks; Elterngeld up to 67% for 12-14 months | Health insurer + employer top-up; state for Elterngeld |
| United Kingdom | Maternity leave | 52 weeks (39 weeks with pay) | 90% for 6 weeks, then £194.32/wk or 90% for 33 weeks | Employer (recoverable from HMRC) |
| United States | FMLA (unpaid) | Up to 12 weeks unpaid | Unpaid (state schemes vary) | No federal fund; state schemes where available |
Frequently asked questions
Does parental leave apply to adoptive parents?
In many countries, yes. The UK, Germany and Sweden all extend parental leave rights to adoptive parents, though the exact rules and timings differ. Always check local law or ask Teamed's employment-law team before making commitments to an employee adopting a child.Can you offer more than the statutory minimum?
Yes, and many employers do. Enhanced parental leave, topping up statutory pay to full salary for a period, is a common benefit used to attract talent. Whatever you offer must be stated clearly in the employment contract and applied consistently to avoid discrimination claims.What happens to an employee's job during parental leave?
In most countries, employees on statutory parental leave have a legal right to return to the same or an equivalent job. Dismissing someone because they took parental leave is unlawful in the UK, Germany, Sweden and most other jurisdictions. The specific protections vary, so check local rules.How does parental leave work when you use a global employment platform?
The platform employs the worker in their home country and is responsible for applying local statutory entitlements. That means parental leave calculations, payments and employer obligations are handled on your behalf, so you do not need to track each country's rules yourself.
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