Paternity leave falling on a rest week

[Lmlewis]

Hi I wonder if you could help?..

Basically my partner has worked for RM for 3 years and we're due our second baby any day now, he knows he is entitled to 2 weeks paternity leave taken in one go and as I was due last thurs he was hoping it would be the following 2 weeks as he has a rest week on the third week. My partner works every sat, mon-sat for 5 weeks and then has his sixth week off as a rest week for working those Saturdays, as baby hasn't decided to come, he wanted to know what would happen if his 2 weeks paternity leave fell into his rest week, as his manager has said he would just lose the period and due back after what would have been his rest week regardless as to whether his 2 weeks OPL and rest week overlapped. Sorry to ramble on but can anyone help as we don't see this as fair as he has already physically worked those Saturdays!! Thanks in advance :)

[spen]

paternity leave can be taken when you want it, within 3months(might be 6) of the childs birth date,so you could just tag it onto the end of the rest week,,, manager is talking rubbish

[Lmlewis]

He did say that but we'd preferably like him to take it as soon as baby is born so he can attend the labour, which is likely to be in the next few days.

[spen]

paternity leave has to be taken in one block and cant be split,,, when my son was born i took 2 days special leave for the birth, then went back to work(lots of family around)and took paternity leave at a later date

[UnhappyGremlin]

I would argue that the rest week is based on time accrued, i.e. that he has worked the hours back in the previous 5 for that week off(it's a wallington duty I think), so in essence it is A/L. If it were to happen during A/L for exam[le, he would get the days back, so I can't see it being different here. If he's told you it will be ok, it probably will be. He'll no doubt have spoken to his Rep and/or got advice elsewhere.

I think the manager is trying it on as it will cause a staffing issue. There will be an agreement or part of an agreement that deals with it, and hopefully someone will post a link soon.

[Lmlewis]

Thank you. He's waiting to speak to his union rep Monday as they weren't in today. Thanks for your help.

[Glenno]

For your information

[arnold cheshire]

He did say that but we'd preferably like him to take it as soon as baby is born so he can attend the labour, which is likely to be in the next few days.

id say he was entitled to go to the birth regardless of paternity leave .

[feduppostie]

the manager needs to get in touch with HR they can guide him through it

It basically is that the manager has to change his work schedule on PSP to change his rest week so that it doesn't clash with his paternity leave which has to run both weeks together with no gap - this has happened at our office and what they did is change the schedule on PSP so that the rest week falls after the paternity leave ( so that he has 2 weeks paternity then his rest week)

and then when it is over he needs to change it back again so that the correct rest week/duty pattern is shown

It's all above board as HR will tell him so he is entitled to 2 weeks paternity followed by his 'deferred' rest week