Turkish legislation guarantees a total of sixteen (16) weeks of paid maternity leave: eight (8) weeks before birth and eight (8) weeks after birth. In cases of multiple pregnancy (twins or more), the maternity leave is extended to a total of eighteen (18) weeks. As a public university, Hacettepe University is also bound by the provisions of the Civil Servants Law No. 657, which mirrors these protections for public employees under Article 104 and regulates the detailed implementation of maternity, nursing and unpaid parental leave for its staff.

Maternity (Birth) Leave

• Female employees are entitled to 16 weeks of maternity leave:
  8 weeks before birth and 8 weeks after birth.
• In multiple pregnancies (e.g., twins, triplets), an additional 2 weeks are added to the pre-birth leave.
• If a medical report confirms that the employee’s health condition is suitable for work, she may request to work until three weeks before the expected delivery date.
  • Any period worked during this time is added to the postpartum maternity leave.
• If the birth occurs earlier than expected, the unused portion of the pre-birth leave is added to the postpartum leave period.
• In the event of the mother’s death during childbirth or while on maternity leave, the father who is a public employee may, upon request, use the remaining portion of the mother’s maternity leave.

Nursing (Breastfeeding) Breaks

In accordance with Law No. 657, Hacettepe University provides nursing breaks to support employees with young children:

• Nursing breaks are granted to mothers of children under one year of age.
• Break durations are regulated as follows:
  • 3 hours per day during the first six months after the end of maternity leave,
  • 1.5 hours per day during the second six months.
• The timing and division of these breaks during the workday are left entirely to the mother’s preference, supporting flexible work arrangements aligned with childcare needs.

Unpaid Leave Due to Childbirth

Hacettepe University applies the following unpaid parental leave provisions stipulated in Law No. 657:

• A female employee who gives birth may take, upon request, up to 24 months of unpaid leave following maternity leave (increased from the previous 12-month limit).
• A male employee whose spouse gives birth is likewise entitled, upon request, to up to 24 months of unpaid leave.
• These regulations promote shared childcare responsibilities and strengthen the continuity of women’s participation in the workforce.

All personnel regulations, maternity and parental leave provisions, and administrative guidelines are publicly available on the official website of Hacettepe University’s Personnel Department.

Civil Servants Law No. 657 – Article 104