You will be eligible for statutory paternity leave and pay if you are the father of a child or the husband or partner of the mother or adopter have worked for us for a minimum of 26 weeks by the end of the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth (EWC) or, in the case of a child placed for adoption, by the end of the week in which the child’s adopter is notified of matching have or expect to have responsibility for the upbringing of the child have given the correct notice (see below)
You can choose to take either one complete week or two consecutive weeks’ paternity leave. Your leave can start from the date of the child’s birth or adoption; or on a chosen day after the date of the child’s birth or adoption. In the case of a birth, the leave must be completed by the time the baby is 56 days old. In the case of an adoption, the leave must be completed within 56 days of the child being placed. Only one period of leave will be available to you even if more than one child is born as the result of the same pregnancy, or you adopt more than one child.
During your paternity leave you will be paid statutory paternity pay (SPP) at the paternity pay rate or 90% of your weekly earnings, whichever is the lower, provided that you meet the eligibility criteria for paternity leave, and that your average earnings are not less that the lower earnings limit set by the government each tax year.
Notice requirements
In the case of a birth, you are required to inform us of your intention to take paternity leave on or before the 15th week before the EWC, unless this is not reasonably practicable. You must inform us in writing of the week the baby is expected, whether you wish to take one or two weeks’ leave and when you want the leave to start. You must inform us as soon as is reasonably practicable after the child’s birth of the date on which the child was born.
If you have given notice of your intention to take paternity leave and wish to change the date that your paternity leave begins, you must give written notice 28 days before the new period of leave is due to start.
In the case of a child placed for adoption, you must inform us of your intention to take paternity leave no more than seven days after the date on which the adopter is notified of having been matched with the child. If that is not reasonably practicable, you must notify us as soon as possible. You will need to specify the date on which the adopter was notified of having been matched with the child, the date on which the child is expected to be placed with the adopter, whether you wish to take one or two weeks’ leave and when you want the leave to start.
Shared parental leave
For further information on the right to time off during the first year after birth / adoption of a child in the event that the mother / adopter ends their period of maternity / adoption leave early, please see the Shared Parental Leave policy below.
Time off to accompany a pregnant woman to an antenatal or adoption appointment
Employees who will be eligible to take paternity leave are entitled to unpaid time off to attend up to two ante-natal or adoption appointments with their partner. If you would like to avail of this right to unpaid time off, you should notify your manager of the appointment time as soon as possible.
This handbook has been prepared by Mark Mason Employment Law Consultancy for the exclusive use of Bumbles Day Care Limited and is not to be made available for use within any other organisation.