How to Calculate Your Return-to-Work Date
Last updated 12 November 2026 · Paternity Leave Calculator editorial team
Your return-to-work date is the first day you're scheduled to work after your last day of leave.
The rule
Find your last day of leave, then move forward to the next day you normally work. If you work Monday to Friday and leave ends on a Friday, you return the following Monday.
Custom working weeks
If you work, say, Tuesday to Saturday, a leave ending on Saturday means you return on Tuesday. Our duration calculator lets you select your own working days.
Leap years and month ends
Counting by hand around the end of February is a common source of errors. Our calculators handle leap years (like 29 February 2028) and month lengths automatically.
Work out your own dates
Use our free calculator to estimate your leave start, end and return date.
Open the calculatorThis guide summarises official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Rules change — confirm your entitlement with your employer or the relevant authority.