1 December 2014

Shared parental leave has come into effect today (1 December).

Under the new laws, couples will be able to share the traditional maternity leave entitlement between them. The right is also applicable to those adopting.

Although the right has come into effect today, it will apply to couples with babies due, or children matched or placed for adoption, after 5 April 2015.

Shared Parental Leave will enable those eligible to choose how to share time off work after their child is born or placed for adoption.

Employed mothers will continue to be entitled to 52 weeks of Maternity Leave and 39 weeks of statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance. Paid Paternity Leave of two weeks will remain available to fathers and a mother’s or adopter’s partner and Additional Paternity Leave will be removed.

To be eligible the parent must be an employee and must pass the continuity of employment test, which states that the person must have worked with the same employer for at least 26 weeks at the end of the 15th week before the week in which the child is due and is still employed in the first week that Shared Parental Leave is taken.

Statutory Shared parental pay is paid at £138.18 or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is lower).

Parents will also be able to take leave at the same time to look after a newborn.

Acas has published an in-depth guide to the new regulations, available here