Anticipating a new arrival in 2024?

Draft changes to paternity leave Regulations have just been published and Julie Sabba, Employment Associate at mlplaw, outlines the key points.

For babies due on or after 6^th April 2024, various changes to paternity leave are due to come into force.  The significant changes are as follows:

• employees will be able to take paternity leave at any time in the 52 weeks following the birth, extending the period beyond the current 56 days after birth;

• the current two-week paternity leave entitlement will be able to be taken as two separate one-week blocks, instead of two consecutive weeks (or being restricted to taking only one week); and

• the current requirement, to provide 15 weeks’ notice prior to birth of the intention to take paternity leave, will be reduced to only 28 days’ notice.

These changes are coupled with the extension of redundancy protection, giving relevant employees preference, relating to suitable alternative employment in any redundancy process.  Such protection will now go beyond the period of actual leave and will apply for a period of 18 months from birth.

If you would like advice from the Employment team at mlplaw in respect of any of the issues raised here or more generally, please do not hesitate to get in touch on 0161 926 9969 or employment@mlplaw.co.uk, or follow us on Twitter @HRHeroUK.