Additional Paternity Leave
[ch 3: page 30]This statutory right came into force in 2011 and will be replaced on 5 April 2015 when the right to take shared parental leave comes into effect as a result of the Children and Families Act 2014.
APL can be taken for up to 26 weeks and can be taken any time from 20 weeks after the child is born, but it must have finished by the child’s first birthday. In the case of adoption it can start any time between 20 weeks and 52 weeks after the child starts living with the adopter. This allows the mother’s partner to be away from work on leave for the purpose of caring for their child after the mother has returned to work from maternity leave.
APL is in addition to OPL. Biological fathers, civil partners and members of adopting couples can all benefit from the right to APL and OPL.
APL is available for a minimum of two weeks and a maximum of 26, and has to be taken all at once within 56 days of the birth.
The right to take APL is only available where the mother does not take her full 52 weeks of maternity leave. If she does, the father will not be entitled to take APL.