Shared parental leave is a new legal right allowing couples to share maternity or adoption leave and pay, and Palmers Solicitors has produced a free guide for you.
Since 5 April 2015, partners have been able to share maternity or adoption leave and pay. They can share their leave in the first year following the birth or adoption of their child by being off work at the same time and/or taking it in turns to have periods of leave to look after the child.
Shared parental leave is designed to give new parents greater flexibility in the first weeks and months that they are caring for their new baby or adopted child.
To qualify for shared parental leave, an employee must share the care of their child with:
- their husband, wife, civil partner or joint adopter
- the child’s other parent
- their partner (if they live with the employee and the child)
The mother must also be entitled to:
- maternity leave or pay
- maternity allowance
- adoption leave or pay
Lara Murray, Solicitor at Palmers said: “It is not just parents that need to understand the new shared parental leave regime but employers also need to understand their new responsibilities and ensure that their employment policies and procedures have been updated to reflect the changes.”
At Palmers Solicitors, we have years of experience in employment law issues and can provide comprehensive advice to businesses seeking to clarify their obligations and ensure compliance with the shared parental leave and pay regime. We can also assist with drafting or reviewing in-house policies on shared parental leave and pay. For more information, please contact a member of our employment team. Alternatively, you can view the guide online by visiting: https://palmerslaw.co.uk/pdf/Palmers-Shared-Parental-Leave-Guide.pdf.