Employment Law Brief - Shared Parental Leave:  Did you know that since 2014 women who are eligible for Statutory Maternity Leave (SML) and Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) following birth can choose to share it with the father, spouse or partner under a shared parental leave arrangement.

You can book up to three separate blocks of Shared Parental Leave (SPL) instead of taking it all in one go, even if you aren’t sharing the leave with your partner. If you and your partner are eligible you can also apply for Shared Parental Pay (SPP).

You can choose to take your leave at different times or both at the same time, so long as your employer is told about your plans for SPL when you apply for it. You can change these plans later but you must give your employer at least eight weeks’ notice before you want to begin a block of leave.

Applying for Shared Parental Leave

To get SPL or SPP you must:

• follow the rules for starting SPL and SPP
• give your employer at least eight weeks’ written notice of your leave dates

You can do both at the same time using a standard form.
Similar rules also apply if you want to share leave after adoption, surrogacy or fostering.

Shared Parental Leave gives families more options in managing their finances and childcare arrangements following birth, adoption or fostering.

If you and your partner are interested in applying for Shared Parental Leave and Pay, GMB’s reps and organisers can assist you in providing advice about your Shared Parental Leave rights.

We can also provide advice and assistance when you make a Shared Parental Leave application to your employer.    

For further information regarding any aspect of our legal services, please visit our website or contact your local rep or GMB office.
www.gmbyorkshire.org.uk

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