From 6 April 2026, the Employment Rights Act 2025 enables eligible employees to access Statutory Paternity Leave and unpaid parental leave from day one of employment, removing long-standing qualifying service thresholds. 

While Statutory Paternity Pay rules remain unchanged, the reforms substantially increase the number of employees eligible to take leave, with government estimates suggesting around 30,000 more people eligible for paternity leave and 1.5 million for parental leave.

Watch this webinar to explore expert and practical insights on incoming family leave reforms, and the implications people professionals and employers must prepare for. 

This webinar was recorded on 26 February 2026. You can monitor any future Make Work Pay plan changes on our dedicated tracker. 

On this page

Claire McCartney, Senior Policy and Practice Adviser at the CIPD, explores the workplace implications of upcoming family leave reforms. Drawing on current policy developments, she outlines practical steps for employers to update policies, support line managers and strengthen flexible, inclusive support for working parents returning to and balancing work.

Impact on people professionals - preparing for parental and unpaid paternity leave reforms

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