What is a paternity leave policy?
A paternity leave policy is a workplace policy that explains how much leave a non-birthing parent gets after a new child arrives, how pay works during that time, and how to request it.
When should your company use one?
A paternity leave policy is required in many jurisdictions as soon as a company has employees, and it's worth formalizing even where it's not legally mandated, since it signals real support for employees starting a family and helps with both retention and recruiting.
Free paternity leave policy template
Use the template below as your starting point. It covers eligibility, leave duration and pay, and job protection, and it's ready to copy into your employee handbook.
Purpose
This policy explains the paternity leave [Company Name] offers to employees who become a parent through birth, adoption, or surrogacy but are not the birthing parent, so they can take time to bond with their new child without worrying about pay or job security.
Scope
This policy applies to all full-time employees who become a parent, whether through the birth of a child, adoption, or surrogacy, and who are not taking leave as the birthing parent. Part-time employees are eligible on a pro-rated basis according to their scheduled hours, unless local law requires otherwise.
Policy elements
Paternity leave gives a new parent dedicated time away from work around the arrival of a child, separate from vacation or sick leave, and separate from any leave taken by their partner as the birthing parent.
Eligibility
An employee is eligible for paternity leave under this policy if they have:
- Completed at least [X] months of continuous employment at [Company Name]
- Provided reasonable notice of the expected or actual date of the child's arrival
- Confirmed their relationship to the child, for example through a birth certificate, adoption order, or equivalent documentation
Leave duration and pay
Eligible employees receive [X] weeks of paternity leave, paid at [full pay / X% of regular pay], to be taken within [X] months of the child's arrival. Leave can be taken in one continuous block or split into shorter periods with manager approval, whichever works better for the family.
Requesting leave
Employees should notify their manager and HR of their intended leave dates at least [X] weeks before the expected start date where possible, understanding that births and placements don't always follow a schedule. HR will confirm the approved dates, pay arrangement, and any handover plan in writing.
Returning to work
Employees return to the same role, or an equivalent role with the same pay and seniority, at the end of their paternity leave. Employees who want a flexible return, such as a phased schedule or part-time hours for a short period, should discuss it with their manager and HR ahead of their return date.
Job protection
Taking paternity leave under this policy has no bearing on an employee's job security, performance rating, or eligibility for promotion. Leave taken under this policy does not count against attendance or performance metrics.
How to customize the template
Paternity and parental leave minimums vary significantly by country and state, and some jurisdictions require a specific portion to be paid or job-protected. Confirm your local requirements for duration, pay, and notice before finalizing the bracketed numbers in this template.
Legal and practical considerations
Paternity and parental leave minimums, including whether leave must be paid and how much notice an employee can be required to give, vary significantly by country and state, so confirm your local requirements before finalizing the bracketed numbers in this template. Write the policy so it applies equally regardless of the employee's gender or family structure, to avoid discrimination claims.
Rollout checklist
Once the template is customized, a few practical steps make sure it's compliant and clear:
- Confirm your local legal minimums for duration, pay, and notice
- Fill in the eligibility requirements and leave duration
- Add it to your employee handbook and internal policy library
- Communicate it to all employees, including how to request leave
- Include it in new hire onboarding
- Review it whenever local parental leave law changes
