Tell your employer: maternity or paternity leave

Mother: tell your employer by registered letter or by hand against a receipt, with a medical certificate giving the due date. Maternity leave for a first or second child is 16 weeks (6 before and 10 after the birth), for a third child 26 weeks; you must stop work for at least 8 weeks. You cannot be dismissed during the leave (F2265).

Father or second mother: 3 days of birth leave, then 25 calendar days of paternity leave, 4 of them straight after. Tell your employer at least 1 month ahead; no length of service is needed (F3156).

The CPAM pays a daily allowance during the leave if you have been insured for at least 6 months and worked enough (F2265, F3156).

These steps with your own dates

A free account: add your situation and town, and the steps get deadlines, a calendar and reminders.