Paternity Leave Policy - April 2026

Time off for antenatal appointments

If you have a qualifying relationship with a person who is pregnant, you have a statutory right to take unpaid time off to accompany that person at up to two antenatal appointments.

This could be you if you are the spouse or civil partner of the pregnant person, or you could be living with the pregnant person in an enduring family relationship (and you are not their parent, grandparent, sister, brother, aunt or uncle). In addition, you will be eligible for the time off if you are the biological parent of the expected child.

To make a request for time off to accompany someone to an antenatal appointment, please apply via My View and your manager will consider and authorise.
 
The antenatal appointment must be made on the advice of a registered medical practitioner, midwife or nurse. The right to time off work is limited to a maximum of six-and-a-half hours for each appointment.

You should give your line manager as much notice as possible of when you need the time off for the antenatal appointments and, wherever possible, try to arrange them outside your core hours or as near to the start or end of the working day.