Under current law, an employee must have worked for their employer for 26 weeks before being eligible to qualify for paternity leave and for one year, to qualify for unpaid parental leave. 

From 6 April 2026, paternity leave and parental leave will be available as day one rights. Employees will be eligible to take paternity leave and parental leave as soon as they start work with their employer.

In addition, employees will no longer be prevented from taking paternity leave after a period of shared parental leave, which they can’t do currently. These changes will give employees more flexibility as to when they take their leave. 

Employers are advised to commence a review of their policies to ensure alignment with these changes once they come into force, and to assess their potential impact on staff and the business.

For more advice, please contact our Employment Team.