Ordinary Paternity Leave

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, so it 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.

There are no plans to increase OPL beyond two weeks, although a review is promised in 2018.

Relevant law: Paternity and Adoption Leave Regulations 2002