The Labour Relations Bill (2015) provides for a minimum maternity leave allowance of 14 calendar weeks in any 12 month period. However, this is only available as an entitlement where the mother concerned has already completed a full year of employment with her employer.
Where an employee has not completed 12 months the Law prescribes that any maternity leave may be pro-rated. You should enquire with your employer what their policy is regarding maternity leave, as some employers can be more flexible than others. There is nothing in the Law that prevents an employer from providing maternity benefits in excess of the minimums prescribed.
Currently an employer is legally required to offer 20 working days leave on full pay, 20 working days leave on half pay and 30 working days on no pay. For practical purposes this is treated by many businesses as the equivalent of six weeks at full pay, and eight weeks at no pay. Maternity leave may generally be taken in whatever portions requested by the employee, but six weeks of it must be taken after the birth of a child.
At present there is no provision in the Law for paternity leave, however, some companies will allow a new father anything from a few days to two weeks off.
Cayman Islands Law also provides for adoption leave. A female employee who adopts a child under the age of three, is entitled to adoption leave of nine calendar weeks, of which 15 working days are on full pay. Paternity leave for fathers who adopt is five days paid leave.