Shared Parental Leave
There’s not long to go before new shared parental leave entitlements begin. Parents of babies expected on or after 5 April 2015 will be able to share up to 50 weeks off work, something which the government hopes will kick-start a feeling of empowerment among fathers to spend more time with their children.
It’s estimated that 285,000 working couples each year will be eligible for the new leave arrangements. They’ll need to comply with some fairly complicated notice arrangements, which includes giving their employers eight weeks’ notice of the pattern of leave they plan to take.
Acas’s guide to Shared Parental Leave is a good place to start to get a handle on what the new rights mean. You can access it here: http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4911. Acas is encouraging early discussions between employers and employees about the various options that are available so that proper plans can be put in place.
We can help you prepare a shared parental leave policy, and update your staff handbooks to cover this important new right for employees.
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