17/ Shared Parental Leave & Pay

You and your spouse/partner/child’s other parent may be eligible to share up to 50 weeks shared parental leave (SPL) provided you both meet certain eligibility criteria.

Shared Parental Leave (SPL) allows working parents to take up to 50 weeks leave between them in order to care for their child. They may take leave at the same or different times, once the mother/primary adopter has notified their employer of their intention to end their maternity/adoption leave period.

Leave can be taken in a continuous block or over a number of discontinuous periods.

You may also be eligible to receive shared parental pay for the remainder of the maternity/adoption pay period to a maximum of 37 weeks provided you meet the qualifying criteria.

The rules on shared parental leave are very complex. If you are considering requesting shared parental leave you should discuss this with your Line Manager in order for the rules on eligibility, notification and your entitlements to be discussed in more detail.

The above information is given for guidance purposes only and confers no extra rights to you beyond those provided by statute.

SPLIT DAYS - SHARED PARENTAL LEAVE 'IN-TOUCH' DAYS

During shared parental leave, you are entitled to up to 20 ‘Shared Parental Leave In Touch Days’ (SPLIT days). These are days when you may work for the Company without bringing your shared parental leave to an end.  Work can be any work under your contract of employment and may include any training or activity undertaken with the purpose of keeping in touch in the workplace. Working up to 20 SPLIT days will have no effect on any entitlement to Statutory Adoption Pay. SPLIT days do not act to extend your period of adoption leave.

Any payment for these days will depend on the type of work, training or activity and will be agreed between you and the Company. For further details please refer to management.