Paternity leave a day-one right for bereaved partners

Implementation date: 29 December 2025

The Paternity Leave (Bereavement) Act 2024 allows an employee to take paternity leave as a day-one right if the child's mother or adopter dies. 

The Act also allows bereaved partners to take paternity leave if they have already taken shared parental leave. 

The Paternity Leave (Bereavement) Act 2024 comes into force on 29 December 2025, via the Paternity Leave (Bereavement) Act 2024 (Commencement) Regulations 2025 (SI 2025/1342).