Skip to content

Call for immediate help from one of our team 01622 47 41 49

Call for immediate help from one of our team 01622 47 41 49

Call for immediate help from one of our team 01622 47 41 49

Call for immediate help from one of our team 01622 47 41 49

Employee Handbook & HR Policies
Maternity & Parental Leave
Employment & HR

Changes to Paternity Leave - March 2024

Primed Team
23 January 2024 2 minutes

Changes to Paternity Leave are on the way which will give fathers or partners the ability to divide their statutory leave into blocks.

The Paternity Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2024 will come into force on 8 March but will only apply to children who are expected to be born after 6 April.

The key changes are as follows:

  • Fathers or partners will be able to split the statutory paternity leave into one week blocks, rather than take it all at once
  • Leave can be used any time during the first year rather than the first 8 weeks after birth or placement for adoption
  • The notice period will be reduced down to 4 weeks instead of the current 15 weeks to notify their employer of intent to take paternity leave

Get answers to your HR challenges with our unlimited HR advice line, giving you the confidence to manage people effectively.

Our thoughts on the paternity leave changes

These changes will go a small way to providing fathers with better provision for when a new baby comes along. Currently, new fathers are entitled to take 2 weeks leave within 8 weeks of childbirth.

The two weeks must be taken as a block, or fathers can take just one week instead. These amendments will allow fathers to split the leave and take it within the first year. This clearly provides greater flexibility, and means that those fathers who aren’t able to take two weeks at once don’t lose out.

But is it really the change that new families want or need?

Many, understandably, would prefer as much time off as possible immediately following birth/adoption.

It isn’t unusual for new fathers to add holiday onto their 2 weeks paternity leave so that they have at least a month, if not more, at home to spend as a new family. That’s great for those who work for understanding and flexible employers, but not all employers are so amenable, and fathers can sometimes feel pressure not to take more time off than their legal entitlement.

What we really need is to take a leaf out of Sweden’s book, who provide 90 days paid paternity leave as well as a whole host of other generous family related rights. It’s part of the much bigger picture of equality – we can’t expect to fully get there when the rights for men and women when it comes to family care are so imbalanced.

 

Need help managing your people?

We give businesses personal support from qualified HR advisors to manage workplace compliance and HR challenges with confidence with our fixed-fee unlimited advice line.

Find out how we can support you and your team, speak to an expert today on 01622 47 41 49 or emailing info@primed.co.uk.

Support managing your people

At Primed, we’re known for our personal approach and the quality of advice we provide. We have all the expertise you need under one roof, with an integrated team of HR advisors and employment lawyers, so there’s no need to go elsewhere when things get tricky.

 

  • Unlimited advice line with direct access to HR advisors & employment lawyers
  • Outcome-driven advice, to achieve your goals quickly and in a way that suits your business
  • Tailored response to your business and its circumstances
  • Template employment contract & essential policies
  • SRA regulated law firm ranked in The Legal 500

Your next read

The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023
Employee Handbook & HR Policies
General Business
Managing People
Employment & HR
All Sectors
All Businesses
The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 is set to bring vital support for parents of newborns in neonatal care. This new law...
By Primed Team 24 October 2024
Employee Handbook & HR Policies
General Business
Managing People
Employment & HR
All Sectors
All Businesses
The long awaiting (100 days of waiting to be precise!) bill has today been released. There is a lot of concern about businesses...
By Primed Team 14 October 2024
Employee Handbook & HR Policies
General Business
Managing People
Employment & HR
All Sectors
All Businesses
In 2020 Nicola Hinds was described by her employer Mitie as ‘extremely dedicated’ and as having ‘tremendous potential’. A...
By Primed Team 11 October 2024