Paternity Leave Guides

Practical, sourced articles to help you understand and plan your paternity leave.

Updated 12 November 2026

How Does Paternity Leave Work?

A plain-English overview of paternity leave: who can take it, when, whether it's paid, and how employer schemes fit in.

Updated 12 November 2026

Step-by-step: work out your paternity leave start date, end date and return-to-work date using calendar or working days.

Updated 12 November 2026

UK Statutory Paternity Leave and Pay explained: 1 or 2 weeks, the 52-week window, eligibility, notice and the 2026/27 pay rate.

Updated 12 November 2026

There is no federal paid paternity leave in the US. Learn how FMLA, state paid family leave and employer policies work.

Updated 12 November 2026

Canada uses EI parental benefits rather than a separate paternity leave. Standard vs extended options and 2026 maximums explained.

Updated 12 November 2026

Whether paternity leave is paid depends on your country and employer. How statutory pay, social insurance and employer top-ups work.

Updated 12 November 2026

A practical checklist for planning paternity leave: notice deadlines, finances, handovers and flexible start dates.

Updated 12 November 2026

What's the difference between paternity leave and parental leave? How the two types of leave differ in length, timing and who can take them.

Updated 12 November 2026

Should you start paternity leave on the birth date or later? Pros and cons of each option and the rules that limit timing.

Updated 12 November 2026

Work out your exact return-to-work date after paternity leave, including weekends, custom working weeks and employer leave.