In the event of the death of the mother of an employee’s child during her maternity leave, the employee will be entitled to avail of fathers leave.
If the mother dies before the end of the 24th week after the date of confinement, the father will be entitled to a period of paid leave up to the end of the 24th week. The father may apply for further fathers leave of up to 16 weeks after that, by providing four weeks notice in writing where possible. Fathers leave will be paid in the same manner as maternity leave. Further fathers leave is unpaid.
If the mother dies between the end of the 24th week and the end of the 40th week following the birth, the father will be entitled to a period of paid leave up to the end of the 40th week. This is unpaid leave.
An employee must notify his Manager on the first day of the leave of his intention to take leave and the duration of the leave. An employee must also notify his Manager of his intention to take additional leave no later than four weeks before the date on which he is expected to return to work where feasible.
Fathers-to-be are entitled to a once-off right to paid time off to attend the last two ante-natal classes in a set of such classes attended by the expectant mother of their child before the birth of the child.