The Government has now published draft legislation (Paternity Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2024) following its announcement last summer to make changes to paternity leave rights.
Eligible employees will now be able to:
Take their two-week paternity leave entitlement in two separate one-week blocks. (Currently they have to take either just one week in total or two consecutive weeks.)
Take paternity leave at any time in the 52 weeks after the birth of the child (rather than within 56 days following the birth).
Eligible employees will also only need to give 28 days’ notice of their intention to take paternity leave. (Previously notice was required to be given 15 weeks before the expected week of childbirth.)
The Regulations apply in all cases where the expected week of childbirth is on, or after, 6th April 2024.