Parental leave: four common misconceptions that can affect families

Parental leave does not have to begin on the day of birth; mothers can start up to 30 days prior. After the initial 42 days of mandatory maternal leave, the remaining time can be split between both parents, including the father taking the majority or total remaining period. Parental subsidies are exempt from IRS and social security contributions and do not count as taxable income. Furthermore, communicated leave periods can be changed by submitting a new request to Social Security and notifying the employer.