Parental Leave Policy Template for UK Businesses
A parental leave policy covers the statutory right of employees to take unpaid time off to care for a child. Under sections 76-80 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 and the Maternity and Parental Leave etc. Regulations 1999, eligible employees can take up to 18 weeks of unpaid parental leave per child, up to the child's 18th birthday. Leave must normally be taken in blocks of one week (unless the child is disabled), with a maximum of 4 weeks per child per year.
Who Needs This Policy?
All UK employers must provide unpaid parental leave to eligible employees. The right applies to employees (not workers) with at least one year's continuous service who have parental responsibility for a child under 18. This includes biological parents, adoptive parents, and anyone with legal parental responsibility. There is no small employer exemption.
What's Covered
This parental leave policy template covers 8 key sections:
Purpose
[your details] recognises that employees with parental responsibilities may need to take time away from work to care for...
Scope
This policy applies to all employees of [your details] who have parental responsibility for a child under 18. From 6 Apr...
Entitlement
Eligible employees are entitled to: - per child, up to the child's 18th birthday - A maximum of (unless [your details...
Procedures -- Requesting Parental Leave
To request parental leave, you should: 1. Give [your details] at least before the date you want the leave to start. 2....
During Parental Leave
During parental leave: - Your employment contract continues (except for the right to pay) - Annual leave continues to a...
Roles and Responsibilities
are responsible for: - Giving adequate notice of their intention to take parental leave - Providing evidence of parenta...
Related Policies
This policy should be read alongside: - Maternity Leave Policy - Paternity Leave Policy - Shared Parental Leave Policy ...
Review
This policy will be reviewed annually, or sooner if there are changes to relevant legislation. The next scheduled review...
Legal Framework
This policy template is grounded in the following UK legislation and guidance:
- Maternity and Parental Leave etc. Regulations 1999 (as amended)
- Employment Rights Act 1996, ss.76-80
- Employment Rights Act 2025 (day-one right from April 2026)
How Complaiance Helps
Our parental leave policy goes beyond a generic template:
- Clear explanation of the default scheme rules and how to create a workforce agreement for alternative arrangements
- Guidance on the 21-day notice requirement and the employer's right to postpone leave
- Provisions for parents of disabled children who can take leave in single days
- Integration with other family-friendly policies including maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave
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Get Started FreeFrequently Asked Questions
Is parental leave paid in the UK?
No. Statutory parental leave under the Employment Rights Act 1996 is unpaid. Employees are entitled to up to 18 weeks per child but receive no pay during the leave. Some employers offer enhanced paid parental leave as part of their benefits package. During parental leave, the employment contract continues and most terms and conditions (except pay) are preserved.
How much parental leave can an employee take per year?
Under the default scheme in the Maternity and Parental Leave etc. Regulations 1999, employees can take a maximum of 4 weeks of parental leave per child per year. Leave must be taken in blocks of one complete week (a shorter period counts as one week), unless the child is entitled to Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment, in which case leave can be taken as single days.
Can an employer refuse or postpone parental leave?
An employer cannot refuse parental leave if the employee is eligible and has given the required 21 days' notice. However, under Regulation 17, the employer can postpone the leave for up to 6 months if it would cause significant disruption to the business — except when the employee requests leave immediately after the birth or adoption of a child, which cannot be postponed.