Paternity leave changes: April 2024

Charlotte Holman, specialist employment law solicitor, takes a look at the changes to paternity leave law coming into effect this month.

The Paternity Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2024 comes into effect from 6 April 2024 and will introduce some changes to the current rules relating to when paternity leave can be taken by employees.

What are the paternity leave changes?

• Rather than having to take paternity leave as a single consecutive block of one or two weeks, employees will be able to take their leave and pay as two non-consecutive blocks of one week. Paternity leave entitlement still remains a maximum of two weeks and employees must take paternity leave in whole weeks, e.g. not single days at a time.
• Employees can take their leave and pay at any point during the first year after the birth or adoption of their child. Under the previous rules, they were limited to taking leave within the first 8 weeks after adoption or birth.
• The notice period an employee is required to give before taking paternity leave has shortened. Previously employees were required to provide 15 weeks’ notice of paternity leave whereas under the new regulations employees are required to give 28 days’ notice prior to each period of leave they wish to take. Different notice period rules apply in domestic adoption cases as placements can be made at very short notice.
• Employees are able to vary any dates for paternity leave provided they give their employer 28 days’ notice of the variation.

The new rules apply to babies expected to be born after 6 April 2024 and to children expected to be placed for adoption on or after 6 April 2024.

Paternity leave pay

As part of the usual practice of increasing statutory payments around this time of year, statutory paternity pay will also increase slightly to £184.03 although employers may choose to offer full pay or enhanced paternity pay to employees.

If you require any support with the new changes coming in or have any queries regarding family leave and pay then please do not hesitate to contact our team of employment lawyers.