Hugo wrote:

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El Duro wrote:

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yes u can split it half and half.. but just a question why would u want to split it when u can give it all to your wife?

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i don't wanna split mat leave are you crazy?! i dont think I could stand a crying baby for that long loll I just wanna stay with my baby for more than a week w/o using my vacation days. I still haven't been able to call the Minsitry of Labour but when I do i'll post whatever info I gather here...

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Have you already talked to the HR department at your company?  I believe some companies may offer additional benefits so it is worthwhile to check with them to get sense of real expectations.

El Duro wrote:

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yes u can split it half and half.. but just a question why would u want to split it when u can give it all to your wife?

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i don't wanna split mat leave are you crazy?! i dont think I could stand a crying baby for that long loll I just wanna stay with my baby for more than a week w/o using my vacation days. I still haven't been able to call the Minsitry of Labour but when I do i'll post whatever info I gather here...

TV Buff wrote:

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Chilenita wrote:

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Chale Tanga wrote:

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El Duro wrote:

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yes u can split it half and half.. but just a question why would u want to split it when u can give it all to your wife?

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 I think that its nice if the husband/baby daddy decides to take time off and help with the baby.  A father needs to bond with his child as well.

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Yes he does but the entire year the woman gets off is something her and the baby REALLY need.  Breastfeeding is so much harder than anyone thinks and its super important.  If she can be at home for the year than she should.

He can take vacation time and help out the second he gets home every evening.

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Uh, hello... breast pumps!!!

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Not the same at all!!!  It's not just the milk itself....it's the physical contact between mom and baby too.

Staying home and taking care of the child is much harder work than going to the office and working 9-5. But staying home with the child even for the afternoon/day is good for the man to appreciate the work the woman does at home.

El Duro wrote:

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yes u can split it half and half.. but just a question why would u want to split it when u can give it all to your wife?

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 I think that its nice if the husband/baby daddy decides to take time off and help with the baby.  A father needs to bond with his child as well.

yes u can split it half and half.. but just a question why would u want to split it when u can give it all to your wife?

If you work PT, you'll most likely get that income deducted from you parental leave payment... unless you get payed in cash

I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE YOUR AVATAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No. it's 60 or 66%, if I'm not mistaken (as in UI)

My buddies wife is self employed, so she couldn't get maternal leave. So he took parental leave instead. It can be done. The in and outs of it, I'm not sure

Check out the MINISTRY OF LABOUR website.

Job protection for employees who take full advantage of new parental leave benefits came into effect on December 30, 2000, through legislation passed by the Ontario Legislature on December 20.

"Our government has made a commitment to support families and help children have the best possible start in life," said Stockwell. "As of yesterday, Ontario law began protecting your job for up to one full year during parental and pregnancy leave."

Provisions of the Employment Standards Act, 2000 ensure that employees cannot be fired for taking pregnancy or parental leave with their newborns or newly adopted children. The legislation applies to people who become parents through birth or adoption any time on or after December 31, 2000.

Under the Act:

* a birth mother may take 17 weeks of pregnancy leave and 35 weeks of job-protected parental leave (up from 18 weeks); and
* all other new parents, such as fathers or adoptive parents, may take up to 37 weeks (up from 18 weeks) of job-protected parental leave.

If parents of newborns each elect to take the maximum allowable job-protected leave at separate times, the newborn could have a parent at home for up to 89 weeks. Likewise, newly adopted children could have a parent at home for the first 74 weeks.

"Studies have shown that the amount of time parents spend with their newborns in the first year is important to the child's development," said Stockwell. "If new parents take full advantage of the job-protected provisions of our legislation, a newborn could have a parent at home for more than the first year and a half. This is good news for Ontario families."