NEWS & RESOURCES

Changes to Paternal Antenatal Rights

This October will see a change to paternal rights as the Government passes legislation granting expectant fathers up to two periods of unpaid leave for antenatal visits.

The Government has introduced the changes to paternal antenatal rights as part of their scheme to involve both parents from the start of the pregnancy, which forms part of their overall strategy for promoting the family. The Department for Business Innovation and Skills has laid out the full details of the new legislation in an Employer Guide, which is available here.

Employees are entitled to two periods of leave, which must be no longer than six and a half hours each. In order to take the leave the employee must be classified as a ‘qualifying partner’ of the expectant mother, meeting that criteria by being identified as either:

  • The husband, civil partner or partner of the pregnant woman
  • The father or parent of the pregnant woman’s expected child
  • An intended parent in a surrogacy situation who meets specified conditions

A qualifying employee will need to submit a declaration form to their employer in order to take the time off, which is in the Employer Guide, and they will have the right to bring a tribunal claim if their employer refuses the leave unreasonably. If the tribunal is successful, the employee will be entitled to compensation worth twice the hourly rate of the hours they would have taken as leave.

The new legislation will also apply to agency staff, including the right to raise a tribunal.

This change to paternal antenatal rights has been criticised as running against the Government’s ongoing strategy to reduce business costs, but the legislation simply marks the intersection between their policies on employment and the family. The Employer Guide states that the aim of the Government is to “encourage involvement of fathers with their children from the earliest possible stages”, whilst making concessions to employers by ensuring that the leave is restricted and unpaid.

It is unlikely that the changes will have a huge impact on business as the cost of raising a tribunal has led to a significant drop in the number of low value claims being made. However it is up to employers to update their policies and communicate these changes to their employees; and it is up to qualifying partners to ensure that they are taking their entitled leave when appropriate.

Retained HR Services from HR Solutions will help your business to stay up to date with changes to HR and employment law. Give us a call on 0844 324 5840 or contact us online to find out more.

SHARE THIS:

Instagram

GET IN TOUCH

Got questions? Looking for advice?

GET IN TOUCH

Got questions? Looking for advice?

RELATED RESOURCES

Explore our comprehensive library of related resources to gain valuable insights, expert tips, and helpful tools for optimising your HR practices.

Request a Call from an HR Advisor

Our expert HR Advisors are here to assist you. To schedule a complimentary 30-minute call, please complete the form below. One of our advisors will reach out within 24 hours to either conduct the consultation or arrange a suitable time.

SIGN-UP FOR UPDATES

Receive all the latest industry insights, expert tips and exciting updates from HR Solutions, straight to your inbox.

Strategic HR thinking whitepaper

Our latest HR whitepaper offers an in-depth analysis and strategic framework aimed at transforming Human Resources into a pivotal element of business success in the rapidly evolving corporate environment of 2024.

PARTNER REGISTRATION

Register your details below and we will contact you regarding how HR Solutions can support your organisation.

MAKE A GENERAL ENQUIRY

We’re here to assist you with any questions or enquiries you might have. Simply fill out the form below, and our dedicated team will get back to you.

var iframe = document.getElementById('pageurl-general-popup-6'); iframe.src = iframe.src + "?Form_Completion_Page=" + window.location.pathname + "&" + window.location.search.substr(1);

REQUEST A PROPOSAL FROM US

We’re here to assist you with any questions or enquiries you might have. Simply fill out the form below, and our dedicated team will get back to you.

BOOK YOUR PLACE

Please complete the form and one of our team will call you back to discuss your query/booking.

Request your free trial

Register your details below and we will contact you about your 30 day free trial of the HR Knowledge Base.

REGISTRATION FORM

Register your details below and we will contact you about access to the HR Knowledge Base.  As part of your approved industry membership organisation you can get access to the HR Knowledge Base, created by Business HR Solutions, which is the go-to resource for thousands of business owners and managers across the UK.

2023/2024 SME BUSINESS SURVEY

Our latest 2023/24 SME Business Survey sheds light on the intricate dynamics shaping the SME sector and unveils critical insights that can guide businesses toward sustainable success.

IF YOU WISH TO PURCHASE HR ADVICE LINE TIME, PLEASE COMPLETE THE FORM BELOW.

HR Solutions are here to help. We offer a standard hourly rate package for ad hoc HR advice which means you can pay for what you need, whenever you need it, and then quickly get advice. Our highly experienced advisors are on hand to provide you with practical employment advice to help you manage your workforce.  You can purchase HR Advice Line time now, and the time purchased will be valid for 12 months.