European Union Parental Leave Directive

The European Union Parental Leave Directive sets minimum standards for parental leave rights across member states. It typically grants parents the right to take paid or unpaid time off around the birth or adoption of a child, encouraging work-life balance. The directive aims to ensure that parents have adequate time to care for their children without risking their jobs and promotes gender equality by encouraging shared parental responsibilities. Each country implements these standards within its own legal framework, but the directive helps harmonize parental leave rights across the EU for better protection and support for families.