Manage the cancellation of a period of additional paternity leave

Key points

The right to additional paternity leave is being abolished and is available only in relation to babies born before 5 April 2015. Following the abolition of additional paternity leave, parents may be eligible to take shared parental leave instead.
An employee must give the employer notice of the start of his additional paternity leave at least eight weeks prior to his chosen start date. The employer must respond within 28 days, confirming the start and end date of the additional paternity leave.
If the employee subsequently wishes to cancel the additional paternity leave, he can do so provided that he complies with the minimum notice requirements.
If the employee does not give the required notice of cancellation, the employer can, in some circumstances, insist that he take a period of leave as planned, for example if the employer has arranged cover for the employee that cannot be rearranged.