Shared Parental Leave and Parental Leave – they’re the same aren’t they? We recently read a LinkedIn debate on this very topic. The new Shared Parental Leave (ShPL) legislation has caused some confusion – so let’s take a look at both and clarify the differences…

Parental Leave (PL)

Used by eligible employees to spend more time with their children for example to look at new schools and nurseries etc…

Parental Leave is unpaid and since April 2015 is now extended to parents of children under 18.

It is limited to 4 weeks per year/per child (unless you agree otherwise) and time is taken in whole weeks.

Employees qualify when they have more than 1 years’ service and have to provide 21 days’ notice prior to their intended Parental Leave start date.   

Parental Leave applies to the ‘child’ not the job.  Therefore it could be than an employee may have already have used some of their Parental Leave with another employer – so it may be an idea to consider having a process in place to record this.

 

Shared Parental Leave (ShPL):

ShPL was introduced to promote equality between men and women and in support a work-life culture by eligible employees being able to take up to 50 weeks (less any weeks of maternity/adoption leave) to care for their child irrespective of their length of service.

ShPL applies to employees whose babies were born or adopted after 5th April 2015.

ShPL is paid at the same weekly rate as Statutory Maternity or Adoption pay, or 90% of average weekly earnings (before tax), whichever is lower and can only be taken once child has been born or adopted and the mother or adopter has either; ended their Maternity/Adoption leave, provided notice of their intention to return to work and ended Maternity/Adoption Pay/Maternity Allowance.

Applications for ShPL should be made in writing and eligibility is subject to both parents meeting detailed qualification criteria. 

Just like maternity and adoption leave, ShPL offers Shared Parental Leave in Touch (SPLIT) days to allow employees to attend work for up to 20 days which can use useful for attending training and team days. 

 

For more information on Parental Leave or Shared Parental Leave, recommendations on how to manage your internal processes or details on eligibility criteria – call us – we’re here to help.