Paternity Leave London

The government is committed to promoting family friendly policies and, as of 6 April 2003, has introduced paid paternity leave. The allowances apply where the baby is born, on or after, 6 April 2003.
Foster Wallace Ltd
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155, Upper St
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Synergy Financial
0844 8845234
14-22, Coleman Fields,
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The Porchester Group Ltd,
020 7529 1980
77, Brook St,
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Anand Associates Ltd
020 7486 5486
10, Glentworth St,
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Winful Associates
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144, Liverpool Rd,
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S B Financial Ltd
020 7700 6677
75, Arlington Avenue
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India Advisory Partners Ltd
020 7226 6858
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Best Invest
0800 6341479
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Portia's Partnership Savings Club
07956 970409
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Paternity Leave

Understand Paternity Leave

The government is committed to promoting family friendly policies and, as of 6 April 2003, has introduced paid paternity leave. The allowances apply where the baby is born, on or after, 6 April 2003.

Leave

Eligible employees will have 26 weeks continuous service for the same employer, at the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth (EWC). Paternity leave rights are afforded to employees who are responsible for the baby's upbringing, are the baby's biological father or the mother's husband or partner (partner refers to someone who lives with the mother, either male or female, in an enduring family relationship, but who is not a blood relative).

Qualifying employees are entitled to take 2 weeks paid paternity leave. This must be taken within 8 weeks of the child's birth or, where the child is born earlier than expected, between the date of birth and 56 days from the first day of the EWC. Leave is available in one block of either one or two weeks, not two separate weeks. This leave allowance is in addition to the right to 13 weeks unpaid parental leave, for parents with children born, on or after 15 December 1994.

Only one period of leave is available to employees irrespective of whether more than one child is born as the result of the same pregnancy.

Pay

Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) follows the same formula as SMP. For babies born on or after 6 April 2003 SPP is £102.80 per week. If earnings are less than the statutory amounts, employees will be paid at 90% of average weekly earnings. Employees must have average weekly earnings at or above the Lower Earnings Limit for National Insurance at the 15th week before the EWC. Employers can and do pay above these statutory amounts.

To help relieve the strain on small businesses, they can recover the amount of SPP they pay out in the same way as they can claim back Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP). Employers can claim back 92% of the payments they make, with those eligible for small employers relief able to claim back 100% plus an additional amount in compensation for the employer's portion of National Insurance contributions paid on SPP. Employers that pay over and above the statutory minimum requirement for SPP can only claim back the statutory amounts not the full cost of the SPP payments paid to their staff.

Contractual benefits

Terms and conditions of employment including holiday leave and pay accrue during the paternity leave period, bar terms relating to wages and salary (unless the contract of employment provides otherwise). If more favourable terms are stipulated in the contract of employment the employee may take advantage of these over and above the statutory rights.

Notification

Employees must notify their employers of their wish to take paternity leave and their intention to claim paternity pay, no later than the 15th week before the EWC.

Notification should include intended dates of leave. An employee may change the commencement date provided he gives...

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