Paternity Policy template
SPP, eligibility, notification and the April 2026 day-one right changes under the Employment Rights Act.
- ERA 1996
- Paternity and Adoption Leave Regulations 2002
- Employment Rights Act 2025
What the policy covers
- 1. ENTITLEMENTEligible employees are entitled to up to two weeks' ordinary paternity leave (OPL).
- 4. NOTIFICATIONEmployees must notify your company of their intention to take paternity leave by the end of the 15th week before the EWC, stating:
- 5. SHARED PARENTAL LEAVEEmployees may be eligible for Shared Parental Leave (see the Shared Parental Leave Policy), which provides greater flexibility than paternity leave alone.
- 6. REVIEWThis policy will be reviewed in advance of the April 2026 Employment Rights Act changes and annually thereafter.
Who needs it
Any UK employer running rotas, leave and the day-to-day of employing people. These set out the rules once so nobody argues about them twice.
Questions people ask
Is a paternity policy a legal requirement?
It rests on ERA 1996 and Paternity and Adoption Leave Regulations 2002 and Employment Rights Act 2025. Some policies must be written down once a business reaches a certain size or does certain work; others are simply how a tribunal, an inspector or a client's auditor expects to see that you have thought about it. A clear, dated, signed policy is the evidence either way. Guidance, not legal advice.
Can I change it to suit how we work?
Yes. Inside Work-Lynx it is a starting point: put your company name in, adjust the arrangements to what you actually do, set the review date and publish it. Staff read and acknowledge it on their phones, and you can see who has not.
Is it up to date?
Last reviewed April 2025. The pack is updated when the law moves, and every policy carries a review date so it does not quietly go stale.
How do I get it?
It is preloaded in Work-Lynx with the other 48 UK policies. Work-Lynx is £2.50 a month plus £1 per employee, 14 days free, no card, and what you see on the pricing page is the bill.
Who is it for?
Any UK employer running rotas, leave and the day-to-day of employing people. These set out the rules once so nobody argues about them twice.
All 49 UK policies, £2.50 a month
This policy and 48 others are already in Work-Lynx, alongside GPS clock-in, rotas, timesheets, leave and Employ AI for UK employment law. £2.50 base plus £1 per employee a month. 14 days free, no card, no sales call.
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