Statutory paternity and ordinary parental leave to become day-one employment rights
What’s changing and what it means for employees from April 2026
From 6 April 2026, the Employment Rights Act 2025 will remove the qualifying periods for paternity leave and ordinary parental leave, making them both day-one rights. Let our policies help guide you.
Where to start?
Notice to take paternity leave (birth)
Notice to take paternity leave (adoption within the UK)
Notice to take paternity leave (adoption from overseas)
Late notice
Thank you for reading
If you’re exploring equalised parental leave, Brightmine can support you with practical guidance, policy insight and leading practice to help you become an employer of choice.
From 6 April 2026, the qualifying periods for paternity leave and ordinary parental leave will be removed. The clock is ticking - employees who are newly eligible for day-one paternity and parental leave can give notice from 18 February 2026.
Royal Assent has now been granted, and the Employment Rights Act 2025 is officially law. The detail is extensive, and HR teams will need to get up to speed quickly. In this webinar, employment law expert Darren Newman provides a clear road map to help you navigate the Act’s many elements—highlighting what to focus on and what not to overlook.
The annual Brightmine survey on absence rates, management and sick pay is now open to complete.The survey explores sickness absence rates, sick pay arrangements and the anticipated impact of statutory sick pay (SSP) reforms on organisations and their approach to absence management.
