Time off for partners to accompany pregnant women

Since 1 October 2014, employees, and agency workers with 12 weeks’ service doing the same kind of job for the same hirer, who are expectant fathers, or the partner of a pregnant woman, have the right to unpaid time off to attend up to two antenatal appointments.

There is no qualifying service period for employees. The time off is capped at six and a half hours per appointment.

A “partner” can be the baby’s father or the mother’s spouse, civil partner, or partner in an enduring relationship, or the parents of a child in a qualifying surrogacy arrangement. A qualifying surrogacy arrangement is one where the parents have applied for, or intend to apply for a parental order.

The employer is not allowed to ask for evidence of the antenatal appointment, such as an appointment card, because this belongs to the expectant mother. However, the employer can ask for a signed declaration, confirming that the employee has a “qualifying relationship” with the pregnant woman or her expected child, that the purpose of the time off is to accompany her to the appointment, and that the appointment was made on the advice of a registered medical practitioner, nurse or midwife (section 127, Children and Families Act 2014 (CFA 14)).