My HR Knowledge Bank
Welcome to My HR Knowledge Bank. You will find frequently asked questions on all current HR Policies and procedures, links to all policies, useful forms, guidelines and toolkits.
SHARED PARENTAL LEAVE |
|---|
Can both parents take shared parental leave at the same time?
Yes, both parents can be absent from work on shared parental leave at the same time.
Can employees on shared parental leave take keeping-in-touch days?
Yes, up to 20 keeping-in-touch days during shared parental leave can be agreed without bringing the leave to an end. These can be used either to undertake work or, for instance, to attend meetings, team events or training. Both parents have up to 20 keeping-in-touch days each, which can be taken as single days or in blocks of days. This is in addition to the 10 keeping-in-touch days available to the mother or primary adopter during maternity leave or adoption leave.
Can I take shared parental leave if my partner is self-employed?
Yes, you can be eligible to take shared parental leave if your partner is self-employed, as long as your partner meets the relevant requirements relating to employment and earnings.
Your partner must have:
- been engaged in employment either as an employed or self-employed earner for any part of the week in at least 26 of the 66 weeks immediately before the expected week of birth (or the week of notification of matching for adoption); and
- average weekly earnings of at least £30 in any 13 of those 66 weeks.
Can same-sex couples take shared parental leave?
Yes, you can take shared parental leave with your spouse, civil partner or partner.
Do employees continue to accrue annual leave during a period of shared parental leave?
Yes.
Do I need to provide evidence that I am entitled to shared parental leave?
Yes, a copy of the child's birth certificate and the name and address of your partner's employer must be provided within 14 days of the request.
How is statutory shared parental pay divided between parents if they take shared parental leave at the same time as each other?
There are no rules as to how entitlement to statutory shared parental pay should be divided between parents. This is for agreement between the parents.
The total amount of statutory shared parental pay available for eligible parents to share is 39 weeks, minus the amount of statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance paid to the mother (or minus the amount of statutory adoption pay paid to the primary adopter). Parents can be on shared parental leave at the same time as each other and can receive statutory shared parental pay at the same time.
Parents are required to notify their employers of how much shared parental pay they are entitled to and how they will split it between them.
How much notice must I give to take shared parental leave?
You must give at least eight weeks' notice
How will shared parental leave operate?
Shared parental leave is aimed at giving you more flexibility over how childcare is shared during the first year of your child's life. You will be able to take it in turns to have periods of leave to care for your child, and/or take leave at the same time as each other.
A mother who meets the eligibility requirements will be able to bring her maternity leave to an end and choose to take shared parental leave with her partner, who must also meet the relevant eligibility requirements. Up to 50 weeks' shared parental leave can be shared between parents.
Must I take shared parental leave in one continuous block?
No, the leave does not have to be taken in one continuous block; employees can return to work and then take a further period of shared parental leave.