Additional paternity leave entitlement

Introduction

Additional paternity leave allows eligible employees (usually fathers) to take up to 26 weeks' leave to care for their new child, possibly with additional statutory paternity pay. This leave and pay is only available to qualifying employees if the mother, or co-adopter, has returned to work. Special provisions apply if the mother or co-adopter dies during their maternity or adoption leave or pay period.

You can offer enhanced additional paternity leave arrangements to attract and retain employees. For example, you could allow all new fathers to take additional paternity leave - regardless of their length of service.

This guide will help you deal with the administration of additional paternity leave.

Subjects covered in this guide

• Introduction
• The right to additional paternity leave - births
• The right to additional paternity leave - adoptions
• Entitlement to additional statutory paternity pay
• When to pay additional statutory paternity pay
• Employee notification of additional paternity leave and pay
• Confirming additional paternity leave and pay entitlement
• Accommodating changes to additional paternity leave or pay
• Additional paternity leave if the mother or co-adopter dies

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