HE's entitled to two weeks PAID paternity leave, as long as he gives the appropriate notice. It's his works problem about finding cover.
SEe below text from the HMRC website:
Leave/pay
Your employee should tell you when he expects to stop work by the Saturday of the 15th week before the week baby due (use the Important Dates tables (PDF 49K)).
This notice can also apply for pay
he must confirm the date of birth
you can ask for this in writing
you are not entitled to ask for evidence of the birth.
You should accept any delay in giving notice if the employee has good reason. Employers should allow sufficient flexibility of notice because of the possible differences between the expected date of birth and the actual date of birth.
Notice can be given:
personally
by someone else
by post, fax or email.
Choosing dates
Your employee has the right to choose when he wants to take leave within a set period. Usually he can choose to take one or two whole weeks leave, but not two separate weeks, any time up to eight weeks after the date of birth or if the baby was born early up to eight weeks after the Sunday of the week in which the baby was due.
Employee does not give acceptable notice
Leave/pay
If your employee did not give you 28 days notice and he has not got a good reason for being late you can delay the start of leave and the pay period until you have had 28 days notice. However, employers should allow sufficient flexibility of notice because of the possible differences between the expected date of birth and the actual date of birth or if the baby was born early up to eight weeks after the Sunday of the week in which the baby was due.
Change of mind
Your employee can change his mind about the dates but should give you 28 days notice of his intended dates. Employers should allow sufficient flexibility of notice because of the possible differences between the expected date of birth and the actual date of birth
He can get SPP if:
he worked for you in the UK in the 15th week before the week baby due
you were liable to pay Class 1 NICs on his earnings for that week.
He can still get SPP if you would have been liable to pay Class 1 NICs if his earnings had been higher. Tables showing the week baby due, the latest start date for employment with you and the 15th week before the week baby due are on the Important Dates tables (PDF 49K).
Step 2
To get SPP the father must continue to work for you from the 15th week before the week baby due right up until the baby is born. It does not matter where he works, or whether you are liable to pay Class 1 NICs. All other SPP rules apply.