Bereaved Partner’s Paternity Leave - April 2026
In this section
- Introduction
- Scope
- What is bereaved partner's paternity leave?
- Requesting support
- Entitlement to bereaved partner's paternity leave
- Amount of bereaved partner's paternity leave you can take
- Timing of bereaved partner's paternity leave
- Notice to take bereaved partner's paternity leave
- If you plan to start your leave more than eight weeks after the bereavement
- If your child dies or your adoption placement is disrupted
- Cancelling your leave
- Changing your leave start date
- Changing your intended return date
- Pay during bereaved partner's paternity leave
- Your rights during bereaved partner's paternity leave
- Holiday entitlement
- Pension contributions
- Re-instating lost pension because of unpaid bereaved partner’s paternity leave
- Contact during bereaved partner's paternity leave
- Keeping-in-touch days during bereaved partner's paternity leave
- Returning to work after bereaved partner's paternity leave
- Requests for flexible working
- Data protection
- Abuse of the Bereaved Partner’s Paternity Leave policy
- Ensuring equality of opportunity
Returning to work after bereaved partner's paternity leave
We recognise that returning to work after a significant period of time away can be challenging. We will take steps to ensure that your return to work is as smooth as possible and work will be handed back to you on a gradual basis.
You have the right to return to the same job and on the same terms and conditions if:
• you have taken an isolated period of bereaved partner's paternity leave lasting 26 weeks or less; or
• your bereaved partner's paternity leave was taken consecutively with another period (or periods) of statutory leave in relation to the same child, provided that the total amount of leave taken (excluding ordinary parental leave) is 26 weeks or less, and it did not include more than four weeks of ordinary parental leave.
In all other cases, you have the right to return to the same job, unless this is not reasonably practicable, in which case we will offer you a suitable alternative job on terms and conditions that are no less favourable.
If you are taking bereaved partner's paternity leave, and are unsure where you stand on your return, please contact your line manager.
If you decide that you do not wish to return to work, you must give written notice of resignation as soon as possible in accordance with the terms of your contract of employment.