32% companies renege on parental leave

A THIRD of Irish companies have not made arrangements for workers to take unpaid parental leave despite a legal requirement to do so, it emerged yesterday.

A survey of 500 business managers conducted by Deloitte in January and February of this year found 32% do not provide access to parental leave, in contradiction of legislation.

The survey shows that while 67% (74% in February 2003) of managers provide paid maternity leave, the number of employers providing paid paternity leave has remained static over the past 12 months at 30%.