Employers and persons in professional training can make use of parental leave. The regulations are explained within in Familien-Wegweiser (Family Guide) Familien-Wegweiser of the Federal Ministry for Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.

Parental leave amounts up to three years.It begins at the earliest with the birth of the child (for women after the end of the mother protection period) and ends always ends after the child has finished its third year of life. Parents may take parental leave alternately or take it together, without the three years being prolonged. The third year of parental leave may be taken separately from the first two years between the third and the eighth year of life of the child upon consultation. Both parents are allowed to work up to thirty hours a week. As with the parents’ money, the entire period of employment must not exceed 48 hours per week.

You will find detailed information within the Broschüre Elterngeld und Elternzeit (brochure Parents’ money and Parental Leave) by the Federal Ministry for for Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.