Paternity Leave Reform 2026: The Proposals to Extend Pay and Leave
The Employment Rights Bill and government review are set to reshape paternity leave — from a day-one right to take leave, to proposals for longer paid leave. Here's where things stand in 2026.
Where paternity leave stands today
Statutory Paternity Leave gives eligible employees up to 2 weeks off work following the birth or adoption of a child, paid at Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) rates. It sits alongside Statutory Maternity Leave, Shared Parental Leave, and (since 2025) Statutory Neonatal Care Leave, forming a patchwork of family leave rights that reform proposals have repeatedly targeted for simplification.
Statutory Paternity Pay Calculator
Calculate UK statutory paternity pay 2026/27 (£194.32/week or 90% of average pay) plus enhanced employer top-up.
Open Paternity Pay calculatorCurrent entitlement (2026/27)
| Feature | Current rule |
|---|---|
| Length of leave | Up to 2 weeks |
| Pay rate | Lower of 90% of average weekly earnings or £194.32/week |
| Can it be split? | Yes — as two separate 1-week blocks, since April 2024 |
| Window to take it | Any time within the first 12 months after birth/adoption |
| Notice required | Generally 4 weeks before each block of leave |
| Qualifying service for pay | 26 weeks' continuous service by the 15th week before the expected week of birth |
The 2024 reforms — what already changed
Before April 2024, paternity leave had to be taken as a single continuous block (of 1 or 2 weeks) within the first 8 weeks after birth, with 15 weeks' advance notice required. The 2024 changes gave fathers and partners considerably more flexibility:
- Leave can now be split into two separate weeks, taken at different times.
- The window to take leave extended from 8 weeks to 12 months after the birth or adoption.
- Notice periods were shortened, making it easier to fit leave around actual circumstances (e.g. after a partner's maternity leave ends, or around a neonatal care stay).
What's being proposed for further reform
Proposals that have been discussed in government reviews and via the wider Employment Rights Bill agenda include:
| Proposal | Current status (2026) |
|---|---|
| Extend paid paternity leave to 4–6 weeks | Under review — not yet law |
| Make paternity leave a genuine day-one right with no notice/service conditions for pay | Under review — SPP still requires 26 weeks' service as of 2026 |
| Increase the rate of pay for at least part of the leave (closer to full pay) | Discussed but not implemented |
| Simplify the overlap between paternity leave, Shared Parental Leave, and neonatal care leave into one coherent framework | Under discussion, no confirmed timetable |
Why reform has been proposed
Take-up of paternity leave and Shared Parental Leave has historically been low compared with maternity leave, partly attributed to:
- The relatively low flat rate of SPP (£194.32/week in 2026/27) compared with many fathers' actual earnings, meaning a real pay cut for many families.
- Complexity in how Shared Parental Leave interacts with a partner's maternity leave, discouraging some couples from using it.
- Limited awareness among employers and employees of the flexibility introduced in 2024.
How this compares with Shared Parental Leave
| Feature | Paternity leave | Shared Parental Leave |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum length | 2 weeks | Up to 50 weeks (shared between parents, deducted from mother's maternity leave) |
| Pay | SPP, £194.32/week or 90% of earnings if lower | ShPP, same weekly rate, for the shared weeks that are paid |
| Flexibility | 2 separate 1-week blocks | Can be split into up to 3 separate blocks per parent, subject to notice rules |
| Independent of the other parent's leave? | Yes | No — depends on the mother curtailing her maternity leave/pay |
Maternity Pay Calculator
Calculate Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) for the full 39-week maternity leave.
Open Maternity Pay calculatorWhat to do now
- Don't assume extended paternity leave is available yet — plan around the confirmed 2-week statutory entitlement unless your employer offers more.
- Check your employer's family leave policy — many now offer enhanced (fully paid) paternity leave well above the statutory minimum as a retention tool.
- If reform is confirmed during the tax year, HMRC and gov.uk guidance (and this article) will be updated — check back before relying on any proposed figure for financial planning.
Use the paternity pay calculator to check exactly what you're entitled to under the current rules.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Statutory Paternity Pay in 2026/27?
Statutory Paternity Pay is paid at the lower of 90% of average weekly earnings or the standard statutory weekly rate of £194.32 for 2026/27, for up to 2 weeks.
Is paternity leave currently a day-one right?
The right to take paternity leave itself is a day-one right from the point primary legislation and secondary regulations came into force, though eligibility for the paid element (Statutory Paternity Pay) still requires 26 weeks' continuous service by the relevant qualifying week.
What is being proposed to change about paternity leave?
Government reviews and proposals under the Employment Rights Bill agenda have floated extending paternity leave beyond the current 2 weeks, allowing it to be taken in more flexible blocks, and making the right to take paternity leave from day one without needing to give as much advance notice.
Can paternity leave currently be split into separate blocks?
Yes, since April 2024, eligible employees can take their 2 weeks of paternity leave as two separate one-week blocks (rather than only consecutively), and can take it at any point within the first year after birth or adoption, not just the first 8 weeks.
Has the 2 weeks of paternity leave been extended yet?
As of 2026, the headline entitlement remains 2 weeks. Extension proposals — including options for 4-6 weeks reviewed by government-commissioned reports — have not yet been implemented into law; check gov.uk for the latest confirmed changes before relying on any extended figure.
Will Shared Parental Leave be replaced by reformed paternity leave?
There have been proposals to simplify the overlapping system of paternity leave, Shared Parental Leave, and maternity leave into a clearer framework, but Shared Parental Leave has not been abolished and remains available as of 2026 alongside standard paternity leave.
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Related reading
Statutory Neonatal Care Leave and Pay 2026: Full Guide for Parents
Statutory Neonatal Care Leave gives parents up to 12 weeks off if their baby needs neonatal care. Here's how the leave and pay work in 2026, who qualifies, and how it fits with maternity and paternity leave.
Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay UK 2026: Jack's Law Explained
Parental Bereavement Leave gives parents 2 weeks off if their child dies under 18, or is stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy — a day-one right, with statutory pay for those with enough service. Here's how it works.
Surrogacy and Parental Order Leave/Pay UK 2026: What Intended Parents Get
Intended parents through surrogacy can access adoption-style leave and pay once they apply for a parental order — here's how eligibility, notice, and pay work, and where the gaps are.