Length of paternity leave

An employee who is:

• the biological father of a child;
• the mother's husband, civil partner or partner; or
• the husband, civil partner or partner of the child's adopter,

and who has, or expects to have, responsibility for the child's upbringing may qualify for a period of ordinary paternity leave and a period of additional paternity leave. 

Where an employee has given his employer notice of when he intends to begin and end his additional paternity leave, the employer must respond in writing within the next 28 days confirming the additional paternity leave start and end dates. A calculator is available as part of the additional paternity leave and pay workflow (birth situation) on Liveflo, to calculate whether or not the employee's intended start and end dates of additional paternity leave are permissible. 

XpertHR provides answers to FAQs on paternity leave:

• Can an employer request that an employee defer his ordinary paternity leave?
• How should an employer respond to an employee's notice of intention to take additional paternity leave and pay?
• What are the possible consequences where an employer fails to confirm an employee's intended additional paternity leave dates?
• If an employee intends to return early from additional paternity leave is the employee obliged to inform the employer?
• If an employee does not intend to return to work after additional paternity leave is the employee required to give notice?