Maternity, Adoption & Paternity Leave

Maternity, Adoption & Paternity Leave

The guides below outline both the Statutory and Occupation entitlements for each specific type of leave, and the procedures to follow. It is recommended that contact be made with the HR Department for individual and up to date information.

From 1st October 2014 - expectant fathers, civil partners, partners (including same sex) will be given the right to take 'unpaid leave from work' to attend up to two antenatal appointments with the expectant mother.

For babies due on or after 5th April 2015 parents will be entitled to share up to 50 weeks shared parental leave and pay. Women will be able to curtail their statutory maternity leave (following a 2 week compulsory statutory maternity leave following childbirth) to enable their partner to take shared parental leave of up to 50 weeks' and 37 weeks' unclaimed pay.

From the 5th April 2015 Additional Paternity leave will be removed and Shared Parental Leave will replace it.

For babies due on or after 6th April 2024, and children whose expected date of placement for adoption, or expected date of entry into Great Britain for adoption, is on or after 6th April 2024, employees will be able to take their two-week paternity leave entitlement as two separate one-week blocks (if they prefer to do so) and at any time in the 52 weeks after the birth or placement for adoption. They will only need to give 28 days’ notice of their intention to take paternity leave (this is reduced from the previously required notice of 15 weeks before the Expected Week of Childbirth (EWC)).

We are currently updating our guides and application forms to reflect these changes, and so in the meantime please contact the HR Department for more advice.

Worcestershire Children's Information Service  provide information on a range of issues including: Pregnancy at Work; Financial Assistance; Maternity/Paternity leave and pay entitlements; Returning to Work and Childcare Options.

For more information, call the Family Information Service on 01905 790560.