Paternity leave

If you’re a new dad, you’ll likely want to take some time off after your baby is born. And both mum and baby will benefit from the extra care.

If you’re an employee, you’re entitled to take two weeks’ leave after your child’s birth or adoption. It must be taken within 52 weeks of the child’s date of birth or adoption placement. This is called paternity leave.

Both heterosexual and same-sex couples can take paternity leave. If your partner is having a baby, you are an employee, and you expect to have parental responsibility for the child, then you’re eligible for paternity leave.

But if you’re not an employee, you aren’t entitled to paternity leave.
Paternity leave is paid for just two weeks at either the standard rate of Statutory Paternity Pay or 90% of earnings, whichever is lower. But your employer may have a more generous policy than the legal minimum.

The law allows you to take either two consecutive weeks in a block, or two single blocks of one week. It does not allow you to take odd days, but your employer may be more flexible.

It’s against the law for your employer to dismiss you, or treat you at all unfavourably, for taking paternity leave.

As well as paternity leave, you may be entitled to shared parental leave, which allows you to divide the mother’s leave between both parents.

Are you a rep? You can find more practical advice on a range of workplace issues in our support for reps section