Paternity Leave (Adoption within GB)

In April 2011 the Additional Paternity Leave Regulations 2010 will take effect and qualifying employees who have been matched with a child for adoption will be able to take a period of Additional Paternity Leave (APL) of up to 26 weeks. However, the qualifying employee can only take APL if that employee’s spouse, partner or civil partner has not taken their full adoption leave entitlement. So, in effect, the period of adoption leave entitlement can now be shared between both partners.

Simply-docs has created a new Paternity Leave Policy (Adoption within Great Britain) and a set of documents for use when an employee wishes to take a period of APL as they have been matched for adoption with a child within Great Britain. Next month, we will bring out a similar package for use when an employee wishes to take a period of APL in respect of a child who is being adopted from Overseas.

The new policy applies to employees who have been matched with a child for adoption within Great Britain and the employee is notified of being matched for such adoption on or after 3rd April 2011. The Policy covers both Ordinary Paternity Leave and Additional Paternity Leave but the rules for Ordinary Paternity Leave have not changed. The Paternity Leave Policy (Adoption within Great Britain) package also includes the new template letters, leave notices and declarations shown to the right.