What is the paternity leave policy?

Paternity leave is a type of leave where fathers take time off of work to spend it with their children shortly after birth. Paternity leave is typically shorter than maternity leave.

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You're legally entitled to offer parental leave for your employees and provide them with weekly statutory pay during the break.

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The statutory paternity leave is meant for:

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• Fathers
• The adopter
• The wife's husband or partner

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Your employees have the right to paternity leave if they're:

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•  Having a baby,
•  Adopting a child
• Getting a baby through a surrogate mother.

How much is statutory paternity pay

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You provide paternity leave pay to your employees like your giving them their salary. In the UK, paternity leave is 90% of your team's earnings or about £156.66 per week. 

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How long is paternity leave in the UK / per different countries 

Fathers are typically entitled to a certain number of weeks of paternity leave, which can vary depending on the country. In the UK, fathers are given two weeks of paternity leave.

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 In other countries, such as Sweden, fathers may be given up to a year of paternity leave, starting three months before the baby is born.

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However, you can extend this period by offering an enhanced paternity leave as an employee benefit. 

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When does paternity leave start?

Paternity leave typically starts when or after the baby is born. It can't start before. The leave ends within 56 days of the baby's birth date.

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Of course, this differs in the case of adoption. In UK adoptions, the leave starts on the day of placement or after, while in overseas adoptions, it starts when the child arrives or anytime after.

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If your employees want to change the start date of leave for whatever reason, they must inform you with 28 days' notice. 

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Paternity leave eligibility

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There are multiple conditions your team must meet to be considered eligible for paternity leave:

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• They're one of your employees
• They provided you with a notice
• They have been working for you for at least 26 weeks
• The minimum of their earnings is £123 per week

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If your team is not qualified for paternity leave, you are required to inform them within 28 days' notice.

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Do you still get paternity leave if your baby dies?

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If the unfortunate happens where the baby dies, your employees will still have the right to paternity leave in two cases: if the baby is stillborn from 24 weeks or if the baby dies after the birth.

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Of course, suppose this situation occurred, and your team took two weeks of leave. In that case, it can also be considered bereavement leave, which is a statutory benefit that gives employees time off to recover and grieve a family loss.

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