Closed petition: Review 26-week employment rule for maternity/paternity pay

Closed on 17 April 2026

The rule to be reviewed, as you can only get maternity/paternity pay if you have worked for your employer continuously for at least 26 weeks by the end of the 15th week before the baby is due, if you have worked continuously all your life you should be entitled to it regardless.

I think it’s unfair that if you have worked all your life and then change jobs during your partners pregnancy that you can’t get paternity or maternity pay if your not in the catch frame, as long as you have worked since you were able to you should be entitled to it regardless of how long you have worked for a certain employer. The rule needs to be reviewed.