Paternity Leave (and Paternity Pay) gives fathers and same-sex partners paid time off work when a new baby arrives.
This article is relevant for England, Scotland and Wales and includes changes to Paternity Leave and Paternity Pay that came into effect in March 2024.
Eligibility for Paternity Leave
Paternity Leave enables partners to have time off when their partner gives birth, adopts, or when they have a baby through surrogacy. Paternity Leave is for the partner of the person giving birth, including same sex couples.
As with Maternity Leave, your employment rights are protected meanwhile.
Paternity Leave duration
You can take either 1 or 2 weeks off, which must be taken in one go. This applies externally to how much you work, so if you work part-time, it is still 2 weeks, not 10 days.
The earliest the leave can start is the day your child is born and the latest it can end is 56 days after the date of birth.
You must give your employer 15 weeks’ notice that you want to take Paternity Leave, and 28 days’ notice of the start and end dates that you wish to take your Paternity Leave, and of any changes to these dates.
Changes to Paternity Leave from April 2024
If your baby is born on or after 6 April 2024, you still get two weeks but you can split it into two one-week chunks and take them at any point in the first year after your baby’s birth, rather than the fortnight immediately afterwards.
You also don’t need to give 15 weeks’ notice of your intention to take Paternity Leave, just four weeks.
Paternity Pay
Statutory Paternity Pay is 90% of your average weekly earnings or £184.03 a week, whichever is lower. Your company may offer more, but it cannot offer less that the statuary amount.
What do I do if my employer underpays me or neglects my rights?
If you are concerned that you are not being paid the correct amount of statutory pay by your employer, or they have denied it to you unfairly, you can contact HMRC. This should only be done if you have been unable to resolve the matter with your employer.
By phone
Lines are open 8:30am – 5:00pm Monday to Thursday, and 8:30am – 4:30pm on Fridays.
Telephone: 0300 322 9432
Textphone: 0300 200 3212
By letter
You can write to:
Statutory Payment Dispute Team
PT Operations
North East England
HMRC
BX9 1AN
Remember to include your contact details so that they can respond to you.
