A one or two-week period of leave granted by statute on the birth (or adoption) of a child, to a male or female employee who is the spouse or partner of the mother (or other adoptive parent) and expects to have responsibility for raising the child. The employee must have 26 weeks' continuous employment at the end of the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth, and may be entitled to statutory paternity pay (SPP)depending on level of earnings.
Related links
Practical Law Dictionary. Glossary of UK, US and international legal terms. www.practicallaw.com. 2010.