EYB Feature
Introducing Shared Parental Leave And Pay With effect from 1st December 2014, the Shared Parental Leave Regulations 2014 will be introduced. Is your business ready for change? Are your employees aware that a ‘pot of leave’ can be sliced and diced? Thankfully Imogen Edmunds delves into the detail. When does this new right take effect?
and introduce a Shared Parental Leave Policy.
The new right will impact births and adoptions that occur after the 5th April 2015. Employers can expect to start receiving requests from January 2015. It’s important to bear in mind that Maternity Leave, as we currently know it, will still exist and mothers will not be obliged to share their leave if they do not wish to!
So who qualifies for Shared Parental Leave and Pay?
Updating Policies We recommend employers update their Maternity Policy, Adoption Policy, Paternity Policy, 020 EYB
In introducing Shared Parental Leave, the Government has produced robust, eligibility and qualification rules. In order to qualify and be eligible for Shared Parental Leave and Pay, a mother must be entitled the following: • Either maternity or adoption leave, • Statutory maternity or adoption pay
• Maternity allowance and she must share the main responsibility for caring for the child with the child’s father or her partner. In addition, they will be required to meet the following two stage process to establish their eligibility. This two stage process covers continuity of employment and the eligibility for pay.
The Two Stages of Eligibility Stage 1 The parent seeking to take Shared Parental Leave must have worked for the same employer