New Statutory Paternity Leave Regulations Come Into Force

The Paternity Leave Amendment Regulations 2024 came into force on the 8th March 2024. The new regulations allow fathers / partners to split their paternity leave into two blocks of 1 week each during the first year after birth / adoption, and apply to births / adoptions where the expected week of birth / adoption falls on or after the 6th April 2024. Currently, paternity leave must be taken as one continous block of 1-2 weeks during the first 8 weeks after birth / adoption. The notice period has also been reduced from 15 weeks to 4 weeks.