Keeping up to date
We take seriously our responsibility to keep you up to date so that you can use changes in employment law to commercial advantage. By understanding and interpreting the latest case law and legislation we can deliver updates to you that are concise and usable. With imagination, we are able to ensure that developing law can be used to allow you to achieve commercial solutions, cost effectively and expediently.
Changes to paternity leave – 06 April 2024
This is the first of the four changes we’re tackling this week. From 06 April, there will be several changes to how and when statutory paternity leave can be taken.
The Paternity Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2024 make the following changes which will apply in all instances where the Expected Week of Childbirth is on or after 06 April 2024:
Changes to two-week entitlement – employees taking paternity leave will be able to take their statutory two-week entitlement as two separate blocks of one week (if they choose to do so), rather than the current position which requires it to be taken as either two consecutive weeks, or just one single week in total.
When leave can be taken – paternity leave will be able to be taken any time during the 52 weeks after the birth. Currently, paternity leave has to be taken in the 56 days following birth.
Notice – employees will only need to give you 28 days’ notice that they intend to take statutory paternity leave. Currently, employees need to give you a minimum of 15 weeks’ notice before the EWC.
Updating paternity leave policy – you’ll need to make the changes to your paternity leave policy and any connected documents (and ideally let employees know of the changes). Get in touch to subscribe to Intelligent Employment – our unique service that takes the load off so you can progress with your people plan.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need our advice or guidance on implementing these changes.