Parental leave

* Parental leave must be taken in blocks of one week.

The facts

Christopher Rodway asked for and took a single day's parental leave to look after his son, despite not having formal permission to do so. When action was taken against him, he claimed protection under the Maternity and Parental Leave etc Regulations 1999, which give parents the right to time off for childcare.

The ruling

The Court of Appeal held that, under the regulations, unpaid leave must be taken in blocks of one week unless there is a workplace agreement to say otherwise. Since Rodway had only requested a day's leave, he was not protected by the regulations.

Rodway v South Central Trains [2005] EWCA Civ 443