Paternity leave

The arrival of a new baby means that you, as a dad, get two weeks off work. Read on to find out more about your rights.

"Find out if your work has any extra discretionary leave for
new dads."

What am I entitled to?

One or two weeks' paid leave (often called paternity benefit) when you and your partner have a child. In order to qualify, you must:

Be employed and have worked for your employer for 41 weeks by the time your baby
is due
Be the biological father, be married to, or be the partner of the baby's mother (this includes same-sex partners)
You will have responsibility for the baby's upbringing
You intend to help care for the baby in your time off
You must have given your employer the correct notice of your paternity leave

How do I claim my leave and allowance?

To qualify for leave, you must give notice to your employer at least 15 weeks before the due date of your child
You are entitled to take up to two weeks off (these must be in one block unless otherwise agreed by your employer) within 56 days of the birth
You can't start your leave until the day the baby is born
You must give your employer 28 days' notice if you want to change the date to some other time within the 56 days

How much will I get paid?

Statutory paternity pay is paid at the same rate as statutory maternity pay. You'll get £117.18 per week or 90% of your gross weekly earnings, whichever is lower.

What if I'm adopting a child?

You still have the right to take some time off work, providing:

You've been employed for at least 26 weeks by the time you are matched with your child
for adoption
You're not taking adoption leave (if you are adopting with your partner, one of you may take adoption leave and one may take paternity leave)
You'll have responsibility for the child's upbringing
You've given your employer the correct notice to take paternity leave

Adapted by Emma Rubach

Updated:15/04/2010

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Check out your company's paternity leave policy – it should be in the staff handbook, if there is one. If not, ask your manager or HR department.
Find out if you have to take your leave in one block or if you can take it separately and work out what would be best for you and your partner.
Find out if your work has any extra discretionary leave for new dads.
Do you have any holiday left? If so, work out whether you can tag it onto the end of your leave to give yourself more time at home.
Since paternity leave doesn't start until the day your baby is born, prepare your colleagues by delegating tasks well in advance and making sure you're not leaving anyone holding the metaphorical baby at work.

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