Employee Rights - Paternity Rights

Employees are now permitted to take up to 26 weeks leave to care for a new baby or to support the mother. In order to be eligible, the employee must have been continuously employed for a period of not less than 26 weeks, ending with the week preceding the 15th week before expected date of child birth, be the father of the child or the mother’s partner and who has, or is expected to have, responsibility for the upbringing of the child. The employee entitled to take the leave may chose to take one or two weeks consecutive leave.

This leave will also apply to persons in same sex relationships and adoption.

The terms and conditions of employment remain in place and the employee has the right to return to the same job. There is also the right not to be unfairly dismissed.

The employee must give notice of the intention to take the leave and specify the expected week of childbirth, length of absence and the date on which the employee would like it to begin.

Payment for this leave is at the same rate as Statutory Maternity pay.