Members who are due to take family-related leave need to be aware of changes to statutory pay entitlements that come into effect from 1 April.
There are also changes to statutory sick pay and to partner bereavement leave.
In terms of family-related leave, the changes are as follows:
Paternity leave
Employees will be entitled to statutory paternity leave from their first day of employment, removing the previous 26-week qualifying period. This applies to babies due on or after 6 April 2026.
Unpaid parental leave
Employees will be eligible for unpaid parental leave from Day 1 of employment, rather than after one year’s service. The statutory entitlement remains 18 weeks per child up to their 18th birthday, with a maximum of four weeks per year unless agreed otherwise.
Employees will now be able to take paternity leave after shared parental leave.
In addition, statutory family pay rates for maternity, adoption, shared parental, paternity and neonatal care will increase to 194.32 a week – or 90 per cent of average weekly earnings if lower.
A new right to bereaved partner leave, available from Day 1 of employment, will also be introduced from 1 April, offering extra protection for employees where a partner dies in a child’s first year.
Reform of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), again in place from 1 April, may affect discussions around attendance.
SSP becomes payable from Day 1 (no waiting days, previously three days). This means employees - including casual staff - will be paid for...
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