Nicaragua Employment Guide

Maternity Leave Policy: A Comprehensive Guide for International Employers

For employees who have completed at least 16 weeks of service, pregnancy entitles them to paid maternity leave. The policy allocates 120 days to be taken before childbirth, with the remaining 240 days available post-delivery. During this period, employees receive full salary compensation through a shared funding model: employers contribute 40% while social security covers the remaining 60%.

Extensions beyond this period require formal approval from the attending physician. Importantly, any extended leave transitions from maternity to standard sick leave classification. In such cases, social security maintains its 60% contribution, while employers retain discretion over providing the additional 40% salary portion.

Case Study: Implementing Maternity Policies at SailGlobal

At SailGlobal, we've found that maintaining the 40% employer contribution during extended leave periods significantly improves employee retention. Our data shows 78% of employees returning to work within 3 months when full salary support continues during medical extensions.

Paternity Leave Regulations

Current legislation does not mandate paternity leave provisions. However, progressive companies like SailGlobal often implement voluntary paternity benefits to support work-life balance.

Sick Leave Entitlements and Compensation Structure

Employees become eligible for paid sick leave after 8 weeks of social security contributions, provided they submit valid medical documentation. The compensation structure divides payment responsibility between social security (60%) and employers (40%), with the latter having optional participation. When employers decline their 40% contribution, employees receive only the social security portion during their medically certified absence.

Best Practices for Sick Leave Management

International HR professionals should note that consistent employer contribution during sick leave correlates with faster recovery times. SailGlobal's implementation of guaranteed 40% employer payment resulted in 25% reduction in average sick leave duration across our European operations.