Family leave is one of the most actively reformed areas of employment law. Paternity changed in 2024, neonatal care leave commenced in 2025, and paternity leave became a right from the first day of employment on 6 April 2026. Diary an annual policy review every April when the rates uprate. Diary a trigger review whenever a new commencement order touches Part 8 of the Employment Rights Act 1996. A policy you wrote once and never revisit becomes a liability inside two years.