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ARTICLE · 22 NOVEMBER 2014

Understanding Ordinary Paternity Leave And Pay

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Ordinary paternity leave is available to eligible male and female employees following the birth or adoption of a child.

United KingdomEmployment and HR
Christina Morton
Christina Morton
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Shared parental leave | Be prepared

Ordinary paternity leave is available to eligible male and female employees following the birth or adoption of a child. Eligible employees are entitled to one or two consecutive weeks' statutory paternity leave. Paternity leave cannot be taken in two or more separate periods.

Ordinary paternity leave as set out below will continue to run in parallel with the new shared parental leave regime.

In order to exercise the right, an employee must satisfy eligibility criteria, which vary slightly according to whether the right is exercised in relation to a birth or an adoption. The criteria is set out bellow.

Birth – the employee must:

  • Have been continuously employed by the employer for not less than 26 weeks ending with the week immediately prior to the 14th week before the child's expected week of childbirth ('EWC').

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