Section 80A — Entitlement to ... paternity leave: birth

(1) [F1 The Secretary of State shall make regulations entitling an employee who satisfies specified conditions—]

(b) [F1 as to relationship with a newborn, or expected, child, and]

(c) [F1 as to relationship with the child’s mother,]

[F1 to be absent from work on leave under this section for the purpose of caring for the child or supporting the mother.]

(2) [F1 The regulations shall include provision for determining—]

(a) [F1 the extent of an employee’s entitlement to leave under this section in respect of a child;]

(b) [F1 when leave under this section may be taken.]

(3) [F1 Provision under subsection (2)(a) shall secure that where an employee is entitled to leave under this section in respect of a child he is entitled to at least two weeks’ leave.]

(4) [F1 Provision under subsection (2)(b) shall secure that leave under this section must be taken before the end of a period of at least 56 days beginning with the date of the child’s birth.]

(5) [F1 Regulations under subsection (1) may—]

(a) [F1 specify things which are, or are not, to be taken as done for the purpose of caring for a child or supporting the child’s mother;]

(b) [F1 make provision excluding the right to be absent on leave under this section in respect of a child where more than one child is born as a result of the same pregnancy;]

(c) [F1 make provision about how leave under this section may be taken.]

(6) [F1 Where more than one child is born as a result of the same pregnancy, the reference in subsection (4) to the date of the child’s birth shall be read as a reference to the date of birth of the first child born as a result of the pregnancy.]

(6A) [F1 [F2 In relation to cases where a child’s mother dies, this section has effect as if—]]

(b) [F1 [F2 after subsection (1) there were inserted—1ABut in a case where both the child and the mother die, the regulations may provide that an employee who satisfies those conditions is entitled to leave under this section despite the fact that the leave cannot be taken for that purpose.;]]

(7) [F1 In this section— “newborn child” includes a child stillborn after twenty-four weeks of pregnancy; “week” means any period of seven days. ]

Amendment notes

1. F1 Pt. 8 Ch. 3 inserted (8.12.2002) by Employment Act 2002 (c. 22), s. 1; S.I. 2002/2866, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. 2
2. F2 S. 80A(6A) inserted (29.12.2025) by Paternity Leave (Bereavement) Act 2024 (c. 17), ss. 1(2), 2(2); S.I. 2025/1342, reg. 2