Parental leave changes
Contents
Qualifying criteria changes
Parental leave is available to employees who are parents (following the birth or adoption of a child) and who have, or expect to have, legal responsibility for them.
Previously, an employee had to be continuously employed for at least 1 year before qualifying to take leave.
However, since 6 April 2026, parental leave has become available to employees (with the requisite parental responsibility) from the day they start work (i.e. it has become a day-one right).
There is still no requirement for parental leave to be paid.
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