Ordinary Paternity Leave (OPL)

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Paternity leave is applicable to University of Nottingham UK employees from the first day of employment. It does not apply to workers, contractors, consultants or any self-employed individuals working for the organisation.

Eligibility

Employees are eligible to take up to two weeks’ unpaid paternity leave regardless of their length of service if they:

• are the biological father of a child, or the spouse, civil partner or partner of the child's mother; and
• have, or expect to have, the main responsibility (apart from any responsibility of the mother) for the child's upbringing

If employees have more than 26 weeks' service at the 15th week before the baby is due, then they may, subject to various criteria, be eligible for two weeks' Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) during their paternity leave. To check eligibility, please click here.

If an employee has more than 12 months' service when the baby is born/adopted, then they will qualify for two weeks' normal pay inclusive of any SPP.

Notification of ordinary paternity leave (OPL)

• Employees can opt to take their paternity leave as either:
  • a single period of leave of either one week or two weeks, or
  • two non-consecutive blocks of one week each
• The leave can be taken at any time within the first 52 weeks following the child’s birth or placement. Paternity leave cannot start before the birth or estimated week of arrival, and it must end within the first 52 weeks of the birth
• If employees intend to take Ordinary Paternity Leave (OPL), they should provide at least 28 days’ notice for each leave period, or 14 days before the expected date of placement, of their intended leave dates, by completing the application form in UniCore, within the Document of Records section.  If you do not have access to UniCore, then your line manager (or designated person) can enter the leave on your behalf.
• Employees can change their mind about when they want to start their OPL providing they give their line manager as much notice as possible.  The line manager (or designated person) will then notify HR via the HR Helpdesk to ensure that the correct dates are recorded in UniCore.