15/ Paternity Leave & Pay

PATERNITY - RIGHT TO TIME OFF TO ACCOMPANY A PREGNANT WOMAN

If you have a qualifying relationship with an expectant mother or her expected child, you may be entitled to unpaid time off to accompany her to an antenatal appointment on up to 2 occasions, to a maximum of 6.5 hours per appointment.

Time off to accompany a pregnant woman to an antenatal appointment will be unpaid.

Reprotec UK may allow additional time off work to attend further appointments at its absolute discretion. You will not receive payment for this time off.

For further details on this entitlement please refer to management.

PATERNITY-  LEAVE

If you are eligible, you may be entitled to two weeks paternity leave and can choose to take either in one week or two blocks(not odd days) if you:

• have been continuously employed for at least 26 weeks by the 15th week before the Expected Week of Childbirth (EWC) or by the week in which an approved adoption agency matches you with a child

• have given notice of your intention to take the leave in or before the 15th week before the EWC specifying the EWC, length of period you have chosen to take and the date you have chosen the leave to begin, and

• have given at least 28 days notice before you want to take a period of paternity leave.

• take the leave within 52 weeks after the birth (or the date on which the child is placed for adoption)

PATERNITY - STATUTORY PATERNITY PAY (SPP)

You will receive SPP if you meet the qualifying criteria.

You must:

• have been continuously employed for at least 26 weeks ending with the 15th week before the Expected Week of Childbirth (EWC)

• still be employed by us up to the date of the birth

• have average weekly earnings of not less than the figure set by the government for the payment of National Insurance contributions

• have met the notification requirements set out above in relation to taking paternity leave.

You will be paid for this leave at the current statutory rate.

The above information is given for guidance purposes only and confers no extra rights to you beyond those provided by statute.

PATERNITY - STILLBIRTH AND MISCARRIAGE

If you experience a miscarriage before 24 weeks of pregnancy, you will no longer be entitled to take paternity leave. You may need some time off work in these circumstances, and this will usually be taken as sick leave, during which the Organisation’s sickness absence policy will apply.

If you suffer a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy, your entitlement to paternity leave and pay will not be affected if you were otherwise eligible to take it and you will still be able to take the time off, and receive pay, as planned.

Parental bereavement leave is also available for employees who suffer a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy.