Guide
Family leave: employer checklist
Checklist for implementing day-one paternity leave, unpaid parental leave, and bereavement leave entitlements under ERA 2025. Covers policy updates, HR system configuration, payroll requirements, and manager training.
UK-wide
Several family leave entitlements are day-one rights under the Employment Rights Act 2025. Employees are eligible from their first day of employment, with no minimum service requirement. This guide provides a compliance checklist for employers.
Ensure compliance: Your policies, HR systems, and manager training must reflect day-one eligibility for paternity leave, parental leave, and bereavement leave.
Day-one entitlements
- Paternity leave
- Day-one right (no service requirement)
- Unpaid parental leave
- Day-one right (no service requirement)
- Bereavement leave
- Statutory entitlement - day-one right
Employer compliance checklist
Policy updates
- Ensure there is no service requirement in your paternity leave policy
- Ensure there is no service requirement in your parental leave policy
- Create or update bereavement leave policy to include the statutory entitlement
- Include early pregnancy loss in bereavement leave policy
- Update employee handbook with current entitlements
HR systems
- Update HR system to process leave requests from day-one employees
- Configure paternity leave without service check
- Configure parental leave without service check
- Add bereavement leave as a leave type
Payroll
- Statutory Paternity Pay still requires LEL - configure accordingly
- Parental leave remains unpaid (unless you offer enhanced terms)
- Check statutory bereavement pay regulations when published
Training
- Brief managers on day-one eligibility
- Train HR on processing requests from new employees
- Ensure sensitive handling of bereavement requests
Practical considerations
Hiring impact
Because family leave is a day-one right:
- Candidates can request paternity leave from their first day
- New employees may immediately need parental leave
- You cannot refuse to hire someone because they might need family leave
Record keeping
- Track parental leave taken (18 weeks per child total, including with previous employers)
- Request evidence of parental leave taken with previous employers
- Maintain records for potential tribunal claims