On 1st December 2014, new regulations giving Shared Parental Leave and Pay came into force in Great Britain. This applies to eligible couples whose baby is due to be born or the child is placed with the adopting couple on or after 5th April 2015. This will replace Additional Statutory Paternity Pay and leave.
If eligible, employees can start their Shared Parental Leave (SPL) if they or their partner ends their maternity or adoption leave or pay early. The remaining leave will be available as SPL and the remaining pay may be available as Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP). The mother must take a minimum of 2 weeks maternity leave meaning this will allow parents to share 50 weeks’ maternity leave and up to 37 weeks’ pay.
Employees can take this leave in up to 3 separate blocks instead of taking it all in one go and can also share the leave with their partner if they are also eligible. Parents can choose how much of the SPL each of them will take. If both parents are taking Shared Parental Leave, they can take it at the same time as each other or at different times. The employee must give at least 8 weeks notice before a block of leave begins. This leave and pay must be taken between the baby’s birth and first birthday, or within one year of adoption.
For more details and a new calculator for maternity, paternity and shared parental pay click here
