340 words, 2 minutes read time.
The government has recently unveiled the draft legislation known as the Paternity Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2024, following the prior announcement of proposed alterations to paternity leave rights in summer 2023. These regulations bring about significant changes aimed at enhancing flexibility and support for employees. Key modifications include the option for employees to split their two-week paternity leave entitlement into two separate one-week blocks, as opposed to the previous requirement of taking it all at once or in two consecutive weeks. Additionally, employees will now have the flexibility to take paternity leave at any point within 52 weeks after the birth, a departure from the previous 56-day window. Furthermore, the notice period for intending to take paternity leave has been significantly reduced to 28 days, down from the previous 15 weeks before the Expected Week of Childbirth (EWC). The leave is paid at the statutory rate, which is currently £172.48 per week.
Patrick Harrington, General Secretary, of Solidarity union commented:
“While the new regulations are a step in the right direction, some argue that they could have gone further. For instance, the leave period could have been extended to allow fathers to spend more time with their newborns. Additionally, the pay rate could have been increased to help families cope with the financial burden of having a new child.
It is important to note that the new regulations are a significant improvement over the previous ones. Hopefully, this government or the next will continue to make progress in this area and provide even more support for new parents in the future.”
It is important to note that the application of these Regulations will be universal, taking effect in all cases where the EWC falls on or after 6 April 2024. These proposed changes are slated to align with other family-friendly legal adjustments, including the introduction of carer’s leave, revisions to flexible working rights, and the expansion of redundancy protection to encompass pregnancy, as well as a period following maternity, adoption, and shared parental leave.
