Current rules
- Eligible employees can take the paternity leave either as one week or two consecutive weeks within the first eight weeks of their child’s birth or adoption placement.
- The paternity leave must be taken in one single block and cannot be split.
- For childbirth related paternity leave, notice must be provided on or before the qualifying week which is 15 weeks before the expected date of birth.
Proposed changes which will come into effect from 6th April 2024
- Fathers and partners will have the flexibility of taking two consecutive weeks of leave or splitting these into two separate blocks of one week each.
- The leave period will be extended to 52 weeks after the date of birth or adoption of the child.
- To take paternity leave, employees will need to provide four weeks’ notice. In cases of domestic adoption, the notice period remains within seven days of receiving notice of the match.
What do employers need to do?
Employers will need to update their paternity leave policies.
If you need support updating your policies, why not reach out to us today by emailing CritchleysHR2@critchleys.co.uk.