Parental leave refers to a period of time during which an employee is given permission by their employer to take off from work in order to focus on caring for and bonding with their newborn or recently adopted child. This type of leave can also be used to care for a sick family member, although this is less common. Parental leave policies vary widely between companies and countries, but generally speaking, employees are entitled to take some time off work in order to focus on their families without fear of losing their jobs.