Education and Child Matters

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Shared Parental Leave (SPL)

 

Please read the following notes first before you start to read this webpage on shared parental leave.

NOTE 1 – If you would like to check whether you and your partner can get shared parental leave and pay, please click the link below.

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE TO CHECK IF YOU AND YOUR PARTNER CAN GET SHARED PARENTAL LEAVE AND PAY

NOTE 2 – If you would like to check whether you are entitled to maternity leave or pay, paternity leave or pay or maternity allowance please click the link below. 

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE TO CHECK IF YOU CAN GET MATERNITY OR PATERNITY LEAVE OR PAY OR MATERNITY ALLOWANCE.

NOTE 3 – There is a separate write up on statutory maternity leave and pay elsewhere on this website. Please click the link below.

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR STATUTORY MATERNITY LEAVE AND PAY

NOTE 4 – There is a separate write up on statutory paternity leave and pay elsewhere on this website. Please click the link below.

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR STATUTORY PATERNITY LEAVE AND PAY

NOTE 5 – There is a separate write up of statutory adoption leave and pay elsewhere on this website. Please click the link below.

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR STATUTORY ADOPTION LEAVE AND PAY

WHAT IS SHARED PARENTAL LEAVE (SPL)?

This is the term used when a mother (or primary adoptive parent) can end her maternity leave and pay and her adoption leave and pay early so that both parents can divide parental leave between them. The mother will have to give up some of her maternity leave and pay or some of her adoption leave and pay and use it as shared parental leave and pay.

HOW LONG CAN SHARED PARENTAL LEAVE BE TAKEN FOR?

Both you and your partner are allowed to share up to 50 weeks on leave and 37 weeks of pay. 

WHEN MUST THIS LEAVE AND PAY BE TAKEN?

It must be shared within the first year of the baby being born or placed with the couple. How shared parental leave is taken is between you and your partner. You can take it together, all in one go, or staggered throughout the time period you are allowed to take parental leave. 

WHEN CAN SHARED PARENTAL LEAVE AND PAY START?

You and your partner start shared parental leave and pay when the baby is born or when the adopted baby has been placed with you and your partner.

The mother must return to work to end her maternity or adoption leave and pay and give her employer a binding notice which gives the date that her maternity or adoption leave and pay will end. The mother can change the date given in her binding notice before the date given, if she has not returned to work, her partner has passed away, if she informs her employer less than 6 weeks after the birth of the baby or she realises she is not eligible for shared parental leave and pay. 

Please note by law a mother cannot return to work for two weeks after the baby has been born.

You must give your employer at least 8 weeks written notice of your shared parental leave and pay.  

HOW DO YOU AND YOUR PARTNER QUALIFY FOR SHARED PARENTAL LEAVE AND PAY?

As a couple to qualify for shared parental leave and pay you both must meet the work and pay criteria. You both also must have shared parental responsibility for the baby and you must have shared parental responsibility before the baby was born. 
 
  • You both must be employees.
  • You both must have worked for your employer for at least 26 weeks before the end of the 15th week before the due date of the baby.
  • You both must still be employed by this employer when you start your shared parental leave.
  • You both must earn a minimum of £123.00 each a week

WHAT OTHER CRITEREA IS REQUIRED FOR THE MOTHERS PARTNER TO QUALIFY FOR SHARED PARENTAL LEAVE AND PAY?

  • The mother must also have worked for 26 weeks (not consecutively) of the 66 weeks before the baby is due.
  • The mother must have earned £390.00 over 13 weeks of the 66 weeks before the baby is born.
WHAT OTHER CRITEREA IS REQUIRED FOR THE MOTHER TO QUALIFY FOR SHARED PARENTAL LEAVE AND PAY?
 
  • The mother’s partner must also have worked for 26 weeks (not consecutively) of the 66 weeks before the baby is due.
  • The mother’s partner must have earned £390.00 over 13 weeks of the 66 weeks before the baby is born.
IS SHARED PARENTAL LEAVE PAID LEAVE?
 

Shared parental leave is paid leave. This is called statutory (permitted or a requirement by law) shared pay.

You will get paid for 39 weeks of your shared parental leave.

  1. 90% of your wages before deductions for the first 6 weeks
  2. 90% of your wages before deductions or £172.48 for the remaining 33 weeks. You will get whichever one is lower.

Tax and national insurance is deducted from statutory parental pay.

WHEN ARE YOU AND YOUR PARTNER NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SHARED PARENTAL LEAVE?

Neither of you is eligible for shared parental leave if you are not entitled to maternity or adoption leave or pay.

Workers are not eligible for shared parental leave and pay. Only employees are.

If a parental stops having parental responsibility for a child then they are not entitled to shared parental leave and pay.