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April 2020 Printweek
child’s mother. This should be taken within 56 days of the
birth or adoption placement and must only be taken in
blocks of one or two consecutive weeks.
But there is a personal and financial cost to taking such
leave. As Makin points out, the current weekly rate for statutory
paternity pay is £148.68, or 90% of the employees’
average weekly earnings, whichever is lower – “that rate is
likely to rise to £151.20 from 5 April 2020, but both entitlements
only apply to those who have been employed for at
least 26 weeks.”
This isn’t a king’s ransom and is all employees get, unless
the employer is generous and pays more contractually. ➔
April & May