Shared Parental Leave
Information on new leave and pay rights for parents of babies due or children being placed for adoption on or after 5th April 2015.
Featured Articles
read more on SPL for employees: return to work SPL for employees: return to work
If you are having a baby, you may wish to take advantage of shared parental leave. This article guides you through the procedure for when you return to work following a period of shared parental leave, and the consequences if you either do not want to return to work or your job no longer exists. […]
read more on SPL – Nuts and bolts and top tips SPL – Nuts and bolts and top tips
Shared parental leave (SPL) allows employed parents and adopters to share leave and pay with their partner to care for children from birth until their first birthday. Employed mothers remain entitled to 52 weeks statutory maternity leave and 39 weeks statutory maternity pay (SMP) or maternity allowance. The mother can choose whether to transfer some […]
read more on Shared parental leave – sharing leave with a partner or splitting up leave Shared parental leave – sharing leave with a partner or splitting up leave
Shared Parental Leave (SPL) is a right for parents which may allow you to: Share leave with a partner, and/or Split up periods of leave. How much and when? Parents can take up to a maximum of 50 weeks as SPL, and a maximum of 37 weeks of Shared Parental Pay (ShPP). You can take […]
read more on Notice of entitlement and intention to take Shared Parental Leave Notice of entitlement and intention to take Shared Parental Leave
If you have checked your eligibility for Shared Parental Leave (SPL) and decided that you intend to take some SPL, the first step is to give your employer a notice of entitlement, which states that you are eligible, and gives your employer an indication of how much you might take and when. This notice is […]
read more on How to take Shared Parental Leave (SPL) – notice and booking How to take Shared Parental Leave (SPL) – notice and booking
How to take Shared Parental Leave – notice and booking To take Shared Parental Leave (SPL) you have to: Give your employer written notice that you are entitled, and how much you intend to take (this isn’t binding, but gives your employer an indication). Separately, you would then need to give at least 8 weeks’ notice of […]
All Articles
read more on Can I be dismissed or discriminated against if I take SPL? Can I be dismissed or discriminated against if I take SPL?
Right not to be disadvantaged You have a right not to be put at a disadvantage by your employer – “not to be subjected to any detriment” as the law puts it – because of an SPL-related reason. So your employer cannot disadvantage you because you have taken SPL or have sought to take SPL, […]
read more on Your rights during shared parental leave Your rights during shared parental leave
While you are on shared parental leave, you continue to benefit from all of your rights and benefits (except remuneration) as though you were at work. You can read our article on shared parental leave and pay to help you work out what kind of pay you can get while on shared parental leave. This […]
read more on SPL for employees: return to work SPL for employees: return to work
If you are having a baby, you may wish to take advantage of shared parental leave. This article guides you through the procedure for when you return to work following a period of shared parental leave, and the consequences if you either do not want to return to work or your job no longer exists. […]
read more on Employment rights – SPL Employment rights – SPL
Employment protection Right not to be disadvantaged You have a right not to be put at a disadvantage by your employer – “not to be subjected to any detriment” as the law puts it – because of an SPL-related reason. So your employer cannot disadvantage you because you have taken SPL or have sought to […]
read more on Redundancy during SPL Redundancy during SPL
Redundancy situations are very worrying for employees, and this worry can be even greater if you are taking or planning to take shared parental leave (or any other period of family-related leave). You may be concerned that your employer will “punish” you for taking SPL, or will think you are less committed to your job, or you may be […]
read more on SPL – In a nutshell SPL – In a nutshell
1. There is no change to the existing provisions for maternity leave and pay. The only difference is that the mother can choose to give up some maternity leave and/or pay so that her partner (and/or she) can take shared parental leave (SPL). 2. There is no extra leave or pay for couples The new […]
read more on Pay for parents taking Shared Parental Leave Pay for parents taking Shared Parental Leave
For information on the basics of shared parental leave (SPL), including who is entitled, how much leave you can take, and how the system works, see Shared Parental Leave: Nuts and Bolts and Top Tips. This information is based on the birth of a child but it also applies to couples who are adopting a […]
read more on Shared Parental Leave for Parents using adoption or surrogacy Shared Parental Leave for Parents using adoption or surrogacy
Shared Parental Leave for adoptive parents If you are adopting with your partner, and you meet the conditions of entitlement, you can take SPL. You and your partner can decide how to share this in the same way as other parents. There is a two week period of compulsory adoption leave. Where a couple are […]
read more on Shared Parental Leave – are you entitled to it? Shared Parental Leave – are you entitled to it?
Are you entitled to Shared Parental Leave? Your family might be able to use SPL if you are expecting a baby with your partner, or you’re expecting a child to be placed for adoption with you and your partner, and at least one of you is employed. The rights apply to mothers and fathers, married […]
read more on SPL – Nuts and bolts and top tips SPL – Nuts and bolts and top tips
Shared parental leave (SPL) allows employed parents and adopters to share leave and pay with their partner to care for children from birth until their first birthday. Employed mothers remain entitled to 52 weeks statutory maternity leave and 39 weeks statutory maternity pay (SMP) or maternity allowance. The mother can choose whether to transfer some […]
read more on Shared Parental Leave – Key facts Shared Parental Leave – Key facts
1. There is no change to the existing provisions for maternity leave and pay. The only difference is that the mother can choose to give up some maternity leave and/or pay so that her partner (and/or she) can take shared parental leave (SPL). 2. There is no extra leave or pay for couples. The SPL […]
read more on SPL for employees- return to work SPL for employees- return to work
If you are having a baby, you may wish to take advantage of the shared parental leave system. This article guides you through the procedure for when you return to work following a period of shared parental leave, and the consequences if you either do not want to return to work or your job no […]
read more on Procedure for taking SPL Procedure for taking SPL
The first step is for the mother to shorten her maternity leave by either: Returning to work, or Giving at least 8 weeks’ notice to her employer to end her maternity leave at a date in the future. This is called a curtailment notice. This can only be withdrawn in limited circumstances by serving a revocation […]
read more on SPL – Are you entitled SPL – Are you entitled
If you are the mother wanting to take or share SPL, you must: Be an employee and entitled to statutory maternity leave (SML), Have worked for the same employer for 26 weeks at the end of the 15thweek before the week in which the baby is due Still be employed in the week before you […]
read more on How to share leave with your partner How to share leave with your partner
If you are a mother entitled to statutory maternity leave (SML), you can share 50 weeks of the leave with your partner, provided you satisfy the qualifying conditions and follow the procedure for taking SPL. You can also share the pay. SPL is available where the baby is due on or after 5 April 2015. […]
read more on Shared parental leave – sharing leave with a partner or splitting up leave Shared parental leave – sharing leave with a partner or splitting up leave
Shared Parental Leave (SPL) is a right for parents which may allow you to: Share leave with a partner, and/or Split up periods of leave. How much and when? Parents can take up to a maximum of 50 weeks as SPL, and a maximum of 37 weeks of Shared Parental Pay (ShPP). You can take […]
read more on When your employer offers you a job less paid (or with less responsibilities) – Parental Rights and Demotion FAQs When your employer offers you a job less paid (or with less responsibilities) – Parental Rights and Demotion FAQs
I/ I’m due to return from maternity or shared parental leave but have been refused my old job back because of a reorganisation. I’m being offered an alternative role but the only job being offered is very much lower in status and responsibilities. Should I take it? What can I claim? II/ I’m due to […]
read more on Mothers and Shared Parental Leave Mothers and Shared Parental Leave
Why take Shared Parental Leave? What’s in it for me; Top tips for mothers This is a guest article by YESS law with help from Working Families and Maternity Action. Employed mothers remain entitled to 52 weeks statutory maternity leave (SML) and 39 weeks statutory maternity pay (SMP). If eligible for SPL, the mother can choose […]
read more on FAQs – working during Maternity, Adoption or Shared Parental Leave FAQs – working during Maternity, Adoption or Shared Parental Leave
Can I work while on Maternity/Adoption/Shared parental leave? Yes and No! If you receive Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP) or Maternity Allowance (MA) then you can work up to 10 Keeping in Touch (KIT) days for your employer. If you receive Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) you can work up to 20 Shared Parental […]
read more on Where to find more information about Shared Parental Leave Where to find more information about Shared Parental Leave
A great source of information on Shared Parental Leave (SPL) is the ACAS website. There you will find a downloadable ‘good practice guide’ for employers and employees, and a useful chart of the SPL process. On gov.uk you can find an overview of SPL, who is eligible, and how to give notice. You can also find a tool that will […]
read more on Options for Shared Parental Leave (SPL) – Mother Options for Shared Parental Leave (SPL) – Mother
Mother takes Shared Parental Leave A mother can take Shared Parental Leave (SPL) if she wants to break up her leave and take some of it at another time. This can be useful, because otherwise you can’t split up maternity leave, apart from a few days when you can work (Keeping in Touch Days). You would […]
read more on Options for Shared Parental Leave (SPL) – Partner/Father Options for Shared Parental Leave (SPL) – Partner/Father
Partner/Father takes Shared Parental Leave The partner/father needs to have worked for the same employer throughout the pregnancy (or for 26 weeks before being matched for a child). The mother/other adopter needs to meet the looser employment and earning conditions, and must end their maternity leave/Maternity Allowance or Statutory Maternity Pay early. That can be done either […]
read more on Shared Parental Leave – case studies Shared Parental Leave – case studies
Watch our full range of short films about Shared Parental Leave.
read more on Redundancy while on or shortly after maternity leave, adoption leave or shared parental leave Redundancy while on or shortly after maternity leave, adoption leave or shared parental leave
Information on your rights if you are made redundant while on maternity leave or just after you return to work.
read more on Notice of entitlement and intention to take Shared Parental Leave Notice of entitlement and intention to take Shared Parental Leave
If you have checked your eligibility for Shared Parental Leave (SPL) and decided that you intend to take some SPL, the first step is to give your employer a notice of entitlement, which states that you are eligible, and gives your employer an indication of how much you might take and when. This notice is […]
read more on Shared parental leave for fathers, partners and adopters (including surrogate parents) Shared parental leave for fathers, partners and adopters (including surrogate parents)
As part of SPLASH (Shared Parental Leave advice on sharing), Working Families have contributed additional information on shared parental leave and pay for fathers, partners and adopters, including surrogate parents. If you have further questions and would like to contact our advice team please use our advice contact form below or call us. Advice contact form Have […]
read more on How to take Shared Parental Leave (SPL) – notice and booking How to take Shared Parental Leave (SPL) – notice and booking
How to take Shared Parental Leave – notice and booking To take Shared Parental Leave (SPL) you have to: Give your employer written notice that you are entitled, and how much you intend to take (this isn’t binding, but gives your employer an indication). Separately, you would then need to give at least 8 weeks’ notice of […]
read more on Some examples of Shared Parental Leave Some examples of Shared Parental Leave
1) Both parents entitled Nabeela and Jonathan are both teachers who have worked for their employers for over six years. They decide that initially Nabeela will take maternity leave of 12 weeks, starting a month before the due date, and Jonathan will take his ordinary paternity leave of 2 weeks when the baby is born. […]