Changes to timing and notice of paternity leave

Implementation date: 8 March 2024

The draft Paternity Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2024 introduce changes to statutory paternity leave including that:

• employees can choose to take either two non-consecutive weeks' paternity leave, or a single period of either one or two weeks;
• the period in which paternity leave must be taken is extended to 52 weeks after the birth or adoption placement (previously it was 56 days); and
• notice of entitlement to take paternity leave must be given in or before the 15th week before the expected week of birth, followed by at least 28 days' notice of each period of leave.

The Regulations will apply where the expected week of birth, the expected date of placement for adoption, or the expected date of entry into Great Britain for adoption, is on or after 6 April 2024.