Missed qualifying week for paternity leave

[LondontoBanbury]

My husband hadn't realized there was a cut off date to when he was supposed to request paternity leave and sailed right past the qualifying week. I'm due in less than 8 weeks and he's just emailed his HR team now.

If he's missed the qualifying week I know they CAN reject his paternity leave, but is it a legal requirement for them to reject it, or is it company discretion? As in, if they're nice, could they still agree to his paternity leave in ~8 weeks? Or is it legally not viable now?

It's very much a "Must"

Though they could always accidently have missed his email and only just read it now..🤫

No it's not a legal requirement for them to reject it, don't worry.

I'd advise him to have a chat with HR / his line manager and make them aware asap.

It might be they need him to adjust his dates etc.

I missed my qualifying date by weeks and I was pregnant 😂

For all they know, baby might be early / late etc so he might not even take the leave on the exact given date.

But no, it isn't automatically rejected. They'd have to be a real shitty employer to do that to him.

My partner missed the deadline by about 4 weeks but still qualified, his employer said they missed the message from him.
He had no issues taking off the time he needed.

I see, sounds like if the onus of missing the date is on the company - e.g. they say they missed the email then he can go ahead with the paternity leave. He's been with the company for 7+ years and has a generally good relationship with them, so fingers crossed they'll help him out!

Thanks for all your help and own stories!

It's not really in their interest to turn it down as they won't want him working when he's had so little sleep

Hi Op i know old post but my husband also missed deadline by 2 days. What was your outcome?

His company didn't mind at all, he was given the 2 weeks paternity and then I had an emergency C-section so he tacked a week of annual leave onto it while he was on paternity leave and they were fine. Hope you have an equally positive result and good luck with your pregnancy and birth 🥰