Paternity and Adoption Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2014 come into force

Implementation date: 5 April 2015

The Regulations amend provisions relating to adoption leave in the Paternity and Adoption Leave Regulations 2002 (2002/2788). They remove the requirement to have 26 weeks' employment with the same employer to qualify for adoption leave; provide that paternity leave cannot be taken in relation to a child where shared parental leave has already been taken; and ensure that if an employee has exercised the right to paid time off to attend an adoption appointment he or she cannot then take paternity leave rather than adoption leave. They also provide protection for employees who suffer detriment or dismissal in relation to time off for adoption appointments and amend the right to return following paternity or adoption leave to take account of the introduction of shared parental leave.