@aihi I can take up to 14 weeks paid leave at a 70% salary rate. So every hour i spend on leave will be paid 70%. It's on top of the standard first week after birth, which is paid 100%. Of those 14 weeks 5 have to be spent in the first six months after birth and the other nine in the first year. I am free to spread those days however i want.
I was in doubt about how to spend them too. I am doing good at work and was well on my way career wise. My department manager is a mother of three and she was very clear about it: i would love to see you back at work after birth but the most important thing is you get the chance to enjoy the baby days and get to be a great father, so make use of the luxury we can offer you.
I was assuming i would take one week extra after the regular week off right after birth and then spend the other 4 weeks in the first six months by taking one day off every week for the next 16 weeks. That would mean i would work three days a week instead of four. It became clear very quickly that it would be very convenient to be available at home and to care for myself and my family. I decided to work four or five hours a day for four weeks and then, when my wife has to start working again i will do the one day off, so we don't have to bring baby to daycare then. When things go well at home i am always free to spend my hours off in a different way.
Put your family first dude. Those first weeks are golden but also very, very tyring. Take whatever is within reach. You can work later.