Additional Paternity Leave

New laws came into force in 2011. These rules allow an eligible father or partner (see below) to take up to 26 weeks’ time off work to care for a child before their first birthday, known as Additional Paternity Leave (APL), as long as the mother has returned to work without using up her full 52 weeks of Statutory Maternity or Adoption Leave.

The right to APL is in addition to the father or eligible partner’s right to take two weeks of Ordinary Paternity Leave (OPL) around the time of the birth.

If the mother decides to take the full 52 weeks of leave, her partner will have no right to take APL.

See page 234 for information about statutory payments during APL.

Relevant law: The Additional Paternity Leave Regulations 2010