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What are the new changes to Statutory Paternity Leave?

The Government has recently announced changes to statutory paternity leave which come into effect from 8 March 2024. Senior Associate Sinead Kelly from our Employment team comments on these changes.

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Published 29 February 2024

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The changes will apply where the expected week of childbirth falls on or after 6 April 2024 and in respect of children who are due to be placed for adoption, or enter Great Britain for adoption, on or after 6 April 2024.

The new rules will give fathers and partners more flexibility as summarised below:

  Current Legislation New Legislation

 

Timeframe Employees must take paternity leave within the first eight weeks after birth. Employees will be able to take paternity leave at any point in the first year after birth.
Duration Leave can only be taken in a single block of either one or two weeks. Leave can be split up into two separate blocks of one week.
Notice Employees must give notice of their leave dates to their employer at least 15 weeks before the birth or adoption. Employees will have to give 28 days’ notice to their employer of their intended leave dates for each period of leave. In cases of domestic adoption, the notice period will remain within seven days of the adopter receiving notice of the match.

 

Paternity Leave Policies will need to be updated to reflect these changes and training should be given to relevant staff members e.g. HR and line managers.

The weekly rate of Statutory Paternity Pay will increase in April 2024 to £184.03, or 90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings (whichever is lower). This is in line with the increases to the rates for Statutory Maternity Pay, Statutory Adoption Pay and Statutory Shared Parental Pay which are also due to come into effect from April 2024.

For more information, please reach out to our Employment team.

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Shorter Reads

What are the new changes to Statutory Paternity Leave?

The Government has recently announced changes to statutory paternity leave which come into effect from 8 March 2024. Senior Associate Sinead Kelly from our Employment team comments on these changes.

Published 29 February 2024

Associated sectors / services

Authors

The changes will apply where the expected week of childbirth falls on or after 6 April 2024 and in respect of children who are due to be placed for adoption, or enter Great Britain for adoption, on or after 6 April 2024.

The new rules will give fathers and partners more flexibility as summarised below:

  Current Legislation New Legislation

 

Timeframe Employees must take paternity leave within the first eight weeks after birth. Employees will be able to take paternity leave at any point in the first year after birth.
Duration Leave can only be taken in a single block of either one or two weeks. Leave can be split up into two separate blocks of one week.
Notice Employees must give notice of their leave dates to their employer at least 15 weeks before the birth or adoption. Employees will have to give 28 days’ notice to their employer of their intended leave dates for each period of leave. In cases of domestic adoption, the notice period will remain within seven days of the adopter receiving notice of the match.

 

Paternity Leave Policies will need to be updated to reflect these changes and training should be given to relevant staff members e.g. HR and line managers.

The weekly rate of Statutory Paternity Pay will increase in April 2024 to £184.03, or 90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings (whichever is lower). This is in line with the increases to the rates for Statutory Maternity Pay, Statutory Adoption Pay and Statutory Shared Parental Pay which are also due to come into effect from April 2024.

For more information, please reach out to our Employment team.

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