From April 2011 parents are able to share their time off work during their baby’s first year. This means that each parent could take 6 months maternity/paternity leave.
Please see our article of 3 May 2010 entitled ‘New paternity rights available for new and adoptive parents from 3 April 2011’ for details and qualifying conditions – see Resources below.
What is Additional Paternity Leave (“APL”)?
APL consists of up to 26 weeks leave to permit the eligible employee to care for the child. This is in addition to the 2 weeks of ordinary paternity leave.
During APL the eligible employee will be entitled to receive additional statutory paternity pay (“ASPP”). ASPP is currently paid at the lower of £128.73 a week or 90% of average weekly earnings.
Resources
The Additional Statutory Paternity Pay (General) Regulations 2010/1056
The Additional Statutory Paternity Pay (Weekly Rates) Regulations 2010/1060
For further information or to discuss the issues raised, please contact Guy Abbiss, Stephen Wright or David Widdowson on +44 (0) 20 3051 5711
