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In order to help men combine jobs with starting a family, working fathers receive two weeks'
paid paternity leave on the birth of their child.
In order to qualify for paternity leave, you must have or expect to
have responsibility for the child's upbringing, you must be the biological father of
the child or the mother's husband or partner, and you must have worked continuously for 2
6 weeks ending with the 15th week before the baby is due.
The leave is paid at the same flat rate as statutory maternity leave, currently around
£100 per week, or 90% of your weekly salary, if this is less than £100. To qualify, you must
have been in a job for 26 weeks, and give notification of the intention to take the leave
by the 15th week before the expected week of the child's birth.
You can choose to start your leave period:
- from the date of your child's birth (whether this is earlier or later than expected), or
- from a chosen number of days or weeks after the date of your child's birth (whether this
is earlier or later than expected), or
- from a chosen date later than the first day of the week in which your baby is
expected to be born.
Your paternity leave can start on any day of the week on or following the child's
birth but must be completed:
- within 56 days of the actual date of birth of your child, or
- if your child is born early, within the period from the actual date of birth up to
56 days after the first day of the expected week of birth.
Fathers can take unpaid leave within the parental leave package, which allows dads
the right to take up to 13 weeks' unpaid leave during the first five years of their
child's life.
For further details visit the
Department of Trade and Industry.
More advice on family policy. | 