UK Statutory Instrument SI 2026 United Kingdom

Employment Rights Act 2025 (Parental and Paternity Leave) Regulations 2026

These Regulations make amendments to a number of instruments that are consequential on sections 15, 16 and 17 of the Employment Rights Act 2025 (c. 36) (“the 2025 Act”). They also make transitional provision for the giving of notices for paternity leave related to the changes made by section 16 …

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Enforcement
No single statutory enforcer
Status
In Force

SI 2026/15 amends the Maternity and Parental Leave etc. Regulations 1999 and the Paternity Leave Regulations 2002 to extend entitlements under the Employment Rights Act 2025. Like the parent entitlements, enforcement is exclusively via Employment Tribunal claims by the affected worker; no regulator proactively enforces individual parental leave entitlements against employers. HMRC administers Statutory Paternity Pay but cannot enforce the leave entitlement itself. Per ACAS guidance on family leave, individual workers must bring tribunal claims to vindicate rights under these Regulations.

What it defines

Regulations creating concrete business duties or carrying penalties, grouped as the instrument is structured. Titles link to the source text — blue means you’re leaving for legislation.gov.uk.

Part 1

General

0 of 3 sections shown
3 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
s.001 Citation, commencement and extent
s.002 Interpretation
s.003 Application
Part 2

Consequential amendments in relation to section 15 of the 2025 Act (parental leave: removal of qualifying period of employment)

0 of 2 sections shown
2 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
s.004 Amendment of the 1999 Regulations
s.005 Amendment of the Maternity and Parental Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2001
Part 3

Consequential amendments and transitional provision in relation to section 16 of the 2025 Act (paternity leave: removal of qualifying period of employment)

0 of 4 sections shown
4 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
s.006 Amendment of the 2002 Regulations
s.007 Amendment of the 2003 Regulations
s.008 Amendment of the 2014 Regulations
s.009 Transitional provision in relation to the giving of notices for paternity leave
Part 4

Consequential amendments in relation to section 17 of the 2025 Act (ability to take paternity leave following shared parental leave)

0 of 5 sections shown
5 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
s.010 Amendment of the 2002 Regulations
s.011 Amendment of the 2003 Regulations
s.012 Amendment of the Paternity and Adoption Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2014
s.013 Amendment of the Shared Parental Leave and Paternity and Adoption Leave (Adoptions from Overseas) Regulations 2014
s.014 Amendment of the 2014 Regulations

Help complying

Guvnor’s practical routes through this instrument.

ERA 2025 compliance checklist

Quick compliance checklist for employers to identify which Employment Rights Act 2025 changes affect their business and by when. Covers SSP, family …

Understanding the Employment Rights Act 2025

Comprehensive walkthrough of all Employment Rights Act 2025 reforms for employers wanting to understand the full scope of changes. Covers day-one rights, …

Hiring your first employee after April 2026

Updated hiring journey incorporating Employment Rights Act 2025 day-one rights and contract requirements. Covers employment contracts, SSP, family leave, and compliance essentials …

Family leave: employer checklist

Paternity leave and unpaid parental leave are now day-one rights under the Employment Rights Act 2025, so remove any service requirement from …

Connected legislation

The wider family of instruments made under the same parent Act.

Duty extraction and severity labels are Guvnor’s analysis of the instrument, not the instrument itself. Always verify against the linked source text.