HMRC has released updated tables for employers to calculate statutory paternity pay (SPP) for employees, now that both mothers and fathers with babies due on or after 5 April 2015 are able to share up to 50 weeks of parental leave
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is urging businesses and employees to familiarise themselves with new regulations, which enable parents to choose a flexible approach as to which parent is at home and which works for the first year of their child’s life, subject to agreement with their employer.
Official estimates suggest up to 285,000 working couples a year are expected to be eligible for Shared Parental Leave (SPL) with parents giving their employers eight weeks’ notice of the pattern of leave they intend to take.
Under the scheme, working couples will be able to share untaken maternity leave and pay, following the first two weeks recovery period that mothers have to take off after birth, so up to 50 weeks leave and 37 weeks of pay can be shared.
The pattern of leave must be agreed between the employer and employee, with eight weeks’ notice. Parents can take leave at the same time, so they can be at home together from the birth if this arranged.
SPL has to be taken in weekly blocks but can be stopped and started, so periods of work can be interspersed with periods of leave for childcare. Each parent notifies their employer of their entitlement and books the leave with at least eight weeks’ notice; up to three booking notifications can be made at once, and more if the employer agrees.
BIS says each parent can use up to 20 SPL ‘in touch’ days to go into work, so could effectively take shared parental leave and work on a part-time basis for a period. SPL can be taken at any time in the first year following the child’s birth, or placement if adopted.
Jo Swinson, employment relations minister said: ‘We recognise that this isn’t going to be easy for those at the forefront of the change but we also know that for many dads the nerves they feel about having a conversation with their boss around leave will be worth it in the end.’
SPL and pay comes into effect for babies due on or after 5 April 2015, or adoptions where the child is placed on or after 5 April 2015.
BIS has produced an online tool so parents can calculate their eligibility for SPL, which is here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/calculate-your-leave-and-pay-when-you...
ACAS has produced an SPL guide, which is here: http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4911
HMRC tables for employers to check employees started in time to qualify for paternity pay are here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statutory-paternity-pay-table-of-dates-for-employee-entitlement-birth
