Ordinary Paternity leave (OPL)

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). The leave is intended to help care for the new baby or to provide support for the baby’s mother, and so must be taken within eight weeks of the child’s birth or adoption. It is separate from the right to Additional Paternity Leave and remains unchanged following the introduction of APL in 2011.