What is the best way to plan Paternity Leave?

[bexboz]

I'm interested to know what other families have done to plan for dad/partner taking time off around the birth and newborn period?

If using annual leave do you book it for 40 weeks (what if baby is late or early?) or 42 weeks plus (baby will have arrived but maybe doesn't cover the birth).

Can paternity leave be taken in bits to fill gaps between planned annual leave or does it have to be taken in a block?

Does paternity leave start when the mum goes into labour or only when the baby arrives? How do you make sure dad is available for labour if he is sometimes out of contact (eg emergency services) during a shift?

Thanks!

You/DH need to talk to his employer. Details on policies differ.

With my eldest, my DH had agreed 2 weeks off from when baby was born. At 7am I told him I had been having regular contractions since 3am, but they were still 15 minutes apart. So he went to work as normal and I said I'd phone his school (he's a teacher, so can't have mobile with him) if he needed to come home early. As it happened, he was able to stay for all his lessons and come home at usual time. We went to the hospital at 6pm and DD was born just after 8pm.

Our twins needed to stay in SCBU for a while. So he arranged to take the 2 weeks from when we were coming home, rather than from the birth. Worked out quite well as they were delivered on a Saturday.

Remember, to you this is a big life event and you feel like you're asking awkward questions. But employers are used to this and these situations are just a totally normal part of their job. Just ask!

As above. Talk to them.

First time DH started 2 weeks paternity leave as soon as DS1 was born.

Second time he did the same but agreed in advance to have 2 weeks annual leave as soon as his paternity leave ended so 4 weeks in total.

I conveniently went into labour on a Sunday both times so logistics at the start were straightforward.

I have two children, third on the way. I finish work 2+ weeks prior my due date. I am using annual leave up until the due date, then it'll switch to maternity leave (if baby comes early, this will be done in our system and updated).

My husband will not start his paternity leave before I am in labour. I like him being around for 3 weeks after birth, so 2 weeks paternity leave, 1 week annual leave. We never thought of splitting it. What's your thought process behind this?

I'll be home for 13 months in total before I return to work.

P.s. my husband works from home full time as of 38 weeks. My other two didn't arrive before that time and hoping this one won't either. He's always contactable though.

It depends on his employer really on exactly how strictly they want to enforce the rules, but assuming you're in Britain it's worth reading what you ar and aren't legally entitled to: https://www.gov.uk/paternity-pay-leave/leave

Thanks for the replies @TinyTeacher @BobbleWobble1 @gemloving @YRGAM

I'm actually thinking ahead to baby #2 as husband was self employed when our eldest was born so just took a big chunk of time off which was amazing. I can't imagine not having his support in those tough final days (I went 16 days over due!!) especially if it happens again with a toddler in tow next time!!

Now my husband is employed, we have to follow all the rules! He can take 12 days off annual leave at a time but they have to be booked pretty far in advance. so we were thinking if he books 12 days off from when I'm about 40 weeks, then if the baby arrives in that period his paternity leave could start afterwards (as it can be taken any time after the baby arrives)

BUT what if the baby comes before 40 weeks when he already has leave booked. Could he take a few days of paternity and then take the rest after his holiday?

AND if baby is super late again he'd have to go back to work for a bit before I actually went into labour and paternity coud kick in. That would be the worst, I don't think I could handle that.

Very detailed I know sorry - and you guys are right we just need to speak to employer. Just so interested in how others have navigated this!

The last two babies in the family (first pregnancies) have been 10 and 13 days late, and one mum and baby in hospital for five days after that. So I wouldn't book annual leave for 40 weeks.

I would do it the other way around...

It depends on the work place. My H has 2 wks paternity from whenever he triggers it. And then a weeks annual leave following straight after. His work understand that babies will come when they come so they are expecting him off over a certain range of time and they are fine with that. But, this was agreed with them way ahead of time.

He is also able to extend his annual leave if needed for an additional week at last minute notice due to the uncertainty around babies and birth.

I guess it depends on the nature of the business where your husband works, seniority, position and internal policy. Government policiy is paternity leave can start on the day your child born, the day after or anytime you have arranged with your employer.

Oh and paternity leave can't be split. It must be taken consecutively or whatever enhanced policy is available.

If you're looking at splitting leave, check out shared parental leave

Depends on the employer, DH was able to take two weeks PL from when I had the baby plus hold back two weeks annual leave to tack on the end, without needing to book specific dates. As it turned out he was on annual leave when I went into labour early, so that covered most of the first week, then he had his 4 weeks off, and some of it was over the Christmas bank holidays which aren't worked in his company, so he ended up with almost 6 weeks in total, it was great.
He just needs to speak to them and ask what usually happens

Whilst the law is strict about taking it all in one go, many employers are happy to bend the rules as often more convenient for them too. First time, DH took the two weeks from birth which was a bit of a waste as DC and I were in hospital for a few days. For second DC (only in hospital 36 hours and of course DC1 needed a parent), he took 1 week from birth then did two weeks of half days. Worked better for us and better for work as well, but obviously depends on job.

I would book the annual leave from let's say 41 or 42 weeks then use part or all of the paternity if the baby comes earlier than this.

I work in the police and have quite a few colleagues who've been at jobs when their partner has gone into labour. I've never known someone not to be relieved from duty in this situation.

They are pretty flexible with granting paternity leave as and when suits and generally it just starts for them when their wife goes into labour because that is what suits. Also my work has a policy when you can tack all your annual leave onto your paternity/ maternity leave if you want to despite them normally being really restrictive about when you can take it so worth looking into.

My husband asked his employer for a weeks annual leave running on from after his paternity leave. It made no difference to them because the 2 weeks paternity leave was spontaneous, so it was just a case of him taking 3 weeks instead of 2. So he didn't book exact dates because it was impossible to know if the same way paternity leave is impossible to know. All 3 of ours were about 2 weeks overdue as well.