Day-one parental leave rights confirmed for April 2026
Millions of workers previously denied time off for the birth of their child will become eligible for day one rights to parental leave from April, as ministers lay new regulations stemming from the Employment Rights Act 2025 before Parliament today (12 January).
The reforms to parental leave include the right to take unpaid parental leave from the first day in a new job, giving a further 1.5 million parents more flexibility to share caring responsibilities.
If even 1% of those out of work were able to take up a part-time job as a result of this move, it could boost economic output by around £150m a year, according to the government. It added that around 390,000 people are estimated to be out of work due to caring responsibilities but want a job, including parents.
Commenting on the measures, together with the changes to statutory sick pay (SSP), Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "For too long, working people were left without the basic rights and security they deserve. That ends now.
"The changes we're bringing in will mean every new parent can properly take time off when they have a child, and no one is forced to work while ill just to make ends meet. This is about giving working families the support they need to balance work, health and the cost of living.
"We're delivering a modern deal for workers. Stronger sick pay, parental leave from day one, and protections that put dignity back at the heart of work. Because when we respect and reward those who keep Britain running, we build a stronger economy for everyone."
An additional 32,000 fathers per year will be able to access paternity leave immediately, from April.
It comes as the government continues its Parental Leave and Pay Review, launched in July 2025, which is assessing the whole maternity and paternity system to see how it can work better for parents and employers.
Business secretary Peter Kyle said: "No one should have to worry about whether they can take time off when their baby arrives, or lose pay simply because they've fallen ill.
"Our improvements to sick pay and parental leave are about giving workers and their families the security they deserve. They will ensure our drive for growth reaches everyone through providing secure, fair-paying jobs and giving support to people when they need it most."
A new paternity leave for bereaved partners will also be introduced from April, providing up to 52 weeks' leave for fathers and partners who lose their partner before their child's first birthday. Previously, bereaved partners had to rely on their employers' compassion to be granted time off to grieve and care for their child.
Campaigner Aaron Horsey said: "Bereaved partners' paternity leave ensures that new parents and their employers have a clear route for support at one of the most difficult moments imaginable. It gives them the time and space they need to grieve, care, and begin to rebuild their lives with dignity.
"By embedding this protection in law, it shows how listening to lived experience can lead to practical, compassionate change that will support families for generations to come."
Simon Kelleher, head of policy and influencing at Working Families, said: "Day-one rights for paternity and unpaid parental leave are a positive step forward. Removing the 26-week qualifying period means parents can change jobs without losing essential leave entitlements, something we know has held many people back and can trap families in roles that no longer work for them."
Changes to SSP rules, which scrap the three-day wait for the benefit to begin and remove the lower earning threshold, are also scheduled to come into force in April. The government says this will benefit up to 1.3 million additional workers in lower -paid and part-time roles.
Niall Mackenzie, Acas chief executive, said: "It can be hugely stressful if a worker is not paid during an illness or dealing with a major life upheaval like a birth or bereavement.
"These new measures give greater protections for working people that get ill, and create capacity to handle unpredictable moments when they need it the most. Reducing stress and anxiety for staff can also help support good relationships with employers and support business growth."
Four sets of regulations are being laid before Parliament today:
- Employment Rights Act 2025 (Parental and Paternity Leave) (Removal of Qualifying Periods etc) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026
- Bereaved Partner's Paternity Leave Regulations 2026
- Employment Rights Act 1996 (Application of Section 80B to Parental Order Cases) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
- Employment Rights Act 1996 (Application of Section 80B to Adoptions from Overseas) (Amendment) Regulations 2026.
New SSP regulations emerging from the Employment Rights Act 2025 will follow in the coming months, ahead of implementation in April.
