New parental rights April 2026 are coming and while the headlines sound significant, the reality for employers is manageable once you understand what’s changing and what to check.
From April 2026, reforms under the Employment Rights Act will give employees day-one rights to certain types of parental and paternity leave. For employers, this isn’t about rewriting everything overnight, it’s about understanding the change, reviewing what you already have in place, and making sure your team and payroll aren’t caught out.
This guide explains the changes in plain English and highlights what employers should be thinking about now.
New Parental Rights April 2026 – What’s Actually Changing?
From 6th April 2026, the key changes employers should be aware of are:
Day-One Right to Paternity Leave
Employees will no longer need a qualifying length of service to take statutory paternity leave. The right to take the leave applies from their first day of employment.
The length of paternity leave is not changing, it remains up to two weeks.
Day-One Right to Unpaid Parental Leave
Parents will also gain a day-one right to unpaid parental leave, removing the current one-year service requirement.
This leave is intended to help parents care for a child’s welfare and is separate from maternity, paternity, or shared parental leave.
Bereaved Partner’s Paternity Leave
New provisions will introduce enhanced leave rights for bereaved partners, giving eligible employees access to extended leave where a partner dies before a child’s first birthday.
Important distinction: leave vs pay
While leave entitlement becomes a day-one right, statutory pay eligibility may still depend on qualifying service and earnings.
This distinction is important for:
- Payroll processing
- Manager conversations
- Employee expectations
What This Means in Practice for Employers
Most issues won’t come from the law itself, they’ll come from policies, processes, and conversations that haven’t been updated.
Employers should be thinking about:
- Whether policies still refer to qualifying service periods
- Whether managers understand the difference between leave and pay
- How requests from new starters will be handled in practice
- Whether payroll knows how to record unpaid parental leave correctly
None of this is complex, but it does need to be clear and consistent.
A Simple Employer Checklist (April 2026 Ready)
To make this practical, we’ve created a detailed employer checklist covering:
- Policies and contracts
- Payroll and statutory pay handling
- Manager guidance
- Operational planning
👇Download the detailed Employer Parental Rights Checklist (PDF)
It’s designed to be used as a working document.
Common Employer Questions (Q&A)
Does this affect maternity leave?
No. Maternity leave has long been a day-one right. These changes bring some other types of leave closer into line.
Do we have to pay from day one?
Not necessarily. The right to take leave and the right to statutory pay are separate. Pay eligibility may still depend on qualifying criteria.
What if a new starter requests leave almost immediately?
That’s exactly the scenario these changes are designed to cover. Employers should have a clear process so managers know how to respond calmly and consistently.
Do we need to change contracts?
Not always, but contracts and handbooks should be checked for outdated wording that refers to qualifying service periods.
Where to Find Further Guidance
You can find more information at the below websites:
- GOV.UK – Parental and paternity leave
- ACAS – Family-friendly workplace rights
- Implementing Employment Rights Bill
Final Thoughts
These changes aren’t about catching employers out, they’re about modernising family leave rights.
If you understand:
- what’s changing
- where it affects you
- what to review
…you’ll be well prepared long before April 2026.
Quiet preparation now avoids confusion later.
If you need help with anything contained in this article, contact us for a no obligation chat:
If you found this article useful, 👇 are other articles written to help employers of any size:
- New Parental Rights April 2026: What Employers Need to Know (Without the Jargon)
- The 7 Monthly Payroll Checks Good Providers Run (That Most Employers Never See)
- HR and Payroll Data Check's Every Employer Should Do (Before Small Errors Become Big Problems)
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