Acas guidance on shared parental leave Susan Raftery

* Acas guidance on shared parental leave Susan Raftery sraftery@acas. org. uk

What is Shared Parental Leave? • New statutory entitlement for employed parents • Created from untaken maternity leave and pay/allowance if mother chooses to take less than her full entitlement • Replaces additional paternity leave and pay • Up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of pay (per couple) • Must be taken before child’s first birthday • Flexible – can be stopped and started again • Each employee needs to qualify in their own right • If both parents qualify can share the leave/pay • Parents can be at home together or stagger their leave

Mum maternity leave Mum SPL & Sh. PP 26 weeks’ maternity 9 weeks’ SPL 9 weeks’ Sh. PP SPL & Sh. PP begins 2 weeks’ paternity SPLIT 3 weeks’ SPL 3 weeks’ Sh. PP Partner paternity leave SPLIT 6 weeks’ SPL 1 week’s Sh. PP Partner SPL & Sh. PP

Purpose of the Acas guidance Encourages good practice for employers in responding The 4 key elements Encourages good practice for employees in notifying Overview of SPL entitlements Guidance not Code of Practice

Contents of the Acas guidance • Introduction to SPL & Sh. PP • Shared Parental Leave: Steps for an employee • Shared Parental Leave: Steps for an employer • Considerations during Shared Parental Leave • Other key considerations • Further advice and support

Step 1: Discuss intentions • To let employees know about their options • To find out about their intentions • To determine entitlement • To keep dialogue open • But NOT to reach an agreement…. . yet

Step 2: Prepare and plan Consider the impact on • • The employee Their colleagues The work The business

Step 3: Discuss the notification • To discuss the details • To consider all points of view • To agree a pattern(s) of leave • But bear in mind that things may change

Step 4: Confirm decision • Unconditionally accept a leave notification • Confirm an agreed modification to a leave notification • Refuse a notification (discontinuous leave only) • What happens if you make no response to a leave notification?

Key issues from customers • Qualifying for SPL • Discontinuous requests • Declaration notices • Enhanced Shared Parental Leave and Pay schemes

Acas training courses Maternity, paternity & adoption rights Shared parental leave Flexible working

Further support mediation Acas website www. acas. org. uk/spl early conciliation e-learning bespoke solutions in-company training Acas helpline 0300 123 1100