A father or other parent who is sick may request in writing to terminate his subsection (1)(b) leave or a period of further leave under section 16(4) where the sickness occurs either (a) during the last four weeks of subsection (1)(a) leave or subsection (1A) leave, whether or not such leave or part of it is postponed under section 16B and where, in accordance with section 16(6), the father or other parent has, or is deemed under section 16B(2) to have, notified his employer of his intention to take further leave under section 16(4), or (b) during subsection (1)(b) leave or a period of further leave under section 16(4), whether or not postponed under section 16B.

An employer who receives such a written request may agree to terminate the leave; if so, the leave terminates on a date agreed by the father or other parent and the employer that is not earlier than the commencement of the sickness and not later than the date the leave would have ended in accordance with the notification given under section 16(2)(a) or (6) or section 16B(7). The employer must notify the father or other parent in writing of the decision as soon as reasonably practicable. After termination, any absence due to sickness is treated as ordinary sickness absence and the father or other parent is not entitled to any part of the subsection (1)(b) leave or further leave under section 16(4) not taken at that date.