Paternity and parental leave: what employers need to know

👶 Who qualifies for paternity or parental leave?

In South Africa, any employee who becomes a parent, but is not the one giving birth, may qualify for parental leave.

This includes:

• Biological fathers

• Adoptive parents

• Parents using surrogacy

There’s no requirement to be married to the mother or co-parent.

📅 How much leave is allowed?

Employees are entitled to:

• 10 consecutive days of parental leave

• From the day the child is born, adopted, or placed into their care

This applies per event, not per child (e.g. twins = 10 days total).

💸 Do I have to pay them?

No, the law does not require employers to pay during parental leave.

However, the employee may:

• Apply for UIF parental benefits, if they’re registered for UIF

• Receive payment from the Department of Labour (not the employer)

AskMandla will help them get the correct UIF forms.

📲 What employers should do

✅ When notified:

• Confirm the expected start date of the leave

• Clarify whether they’ll be taking all 10 days at once or separately

• Update their records using AskMandla WhatsApp commands

✅ During leave:

• Log the leave in the system

• Ensure the payslip reflects unpaid leave correctly

• Offer support and flexibility where possible

✅ After leave:

• Ensure a smooth return

• Reinstate the employee to their normal duties

• Log any changes using WhatsApp if needed

❗ What you cannot do

• You cannot refuse parental leave if it’s properly requested

• You cannot penalise or dismiss an employee for taking it

• You must treat it as a valid type of leave under the law

🧾 What AskMandla does for you

• Records the 10-day parental leave correctly

• Updates the employee’s payslip

• Generates UIF documents if needed

• Helps answer any legal or logistical questions

Simply message: “Parental leave help” on WhatsApp and we’ll guide you.