Ordinary Statutory Paternity Leave and Statutory Paternity Pay

[ch 7: pages 71-72]

Ordinary Paternity Leave (OPL) is the right for a woman’s partner to take one or two weeks’ leave around the time of the birth or adoption. This must be taken within eight weeks of the child’s birth or adoption.

To qualify for OPL a person must be an employee and meet the following conditions:

• earn at least £111 a week in an eight-week period;

• have at least 26 weeks’ service by the 15th week before the baby is due or the week the child is matched (or enters Great Britain in the case of an overseas adoption);

• be either the biological father, the mother’s husband or partner (including civil partner), the child’s adopter or the husband or partner (including civil partner) of the child’s adopter;

• have or expect to have parental responsibility for the upbringing of the child.

Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) is payable during OPL if the above conditions are met. It can be claimed for up to two weeks, at the fixed sum of £139.58 a week (6 April 2015), or 90% of earnings (whichever is lower).