Shared Parental Leave

You and your partner may be able to get Shared Parental Leave (SPL) and Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) if you are having a baby or adopting a child.

You can share up to 50 weeks of leave and up to 37 weeks of pay between you.

You need to share the pay and leave in the first year after your child is born or placed with your family.

You can use SPL to take leave in, up to three blocks separated by periods of work or take it all in one go. You can also choose to be off work together or to stagger the leave and pay..

If the child’s mother, or the other adoptive parent, dies in the first year of the child’s life, your shared parental leave can begin at any time after the death and last until the child’s first birthday.

To be eligible for Shared Parental Leave (SPL) and Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP), both parents must:

• share responsibility for the child at birth

• meet work and pay criteria - these are different depending on which parent wants to use the shared parental leave and pay

You must give the Institute at least eight weeks’ notice that you wish to take shared parental leave, and complete the relevant form available from HR. 

Please also provide:

• a copy of the child’s birth certificate

• the name and address of your partner’s employer

In receive ShPP, which is paid in line with Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), you need to meet the same conditions.   

Shared Parental leave pay is paid at the maternity pay rate and you will need to meet the same requirement for the enhanced maternity pay or you will receive the statutory maternity pay rate.

While on shared parental leave, your contract continues, and you are entitled to your normal terms and conditions apart for salary.

During this period the Institute may make reasonable contact with you to discuss for example, arrangements for your return to work, or to keep you abreast of developments in the workplace.

There is the option for you to work take up to 20 days during your shared parental leave without affecting your rights to shared parental leave or pay.

These would be arranged by mutual agreement and could be so that you can attend a conference, training or team meeting.  You would be paid at your daily / hourly rate of pay.

Employees have the right to return to the same job on the same terms and conditions of employment. as if you had not been absent. if they take only 26 weeks of Shared Parental Leave.