Paternity leave is job-protected time off for a father or a partner to care for a new child after birth or adoption. It allows the second parent to support the family in the early weeks and is increasingly seen as central to shared, equal caregiving rather than an optional extra.

Provision is growing but uneven. The UK offers up to two weeks of statutory paternity leave and, from 2026, made it a day-one right rather than one requiring a service qualification. Several EU countries have introduced longer, well-paid paternity entitlements under the Work-Life Balance Directive, and some reserve leave specifically for the second parent.

Paternity leave is best managed alongside the other family-leave types it sits next to. Recording it in Calamari's Time Off module, linked to parental and maternity leave, gives HR a complete and accurate picture of family absences.