From today, 1st December 2014, there are significant changes to parents’ rights to share maternity / adoption leave and pay and Hallidays Ethical Resourcing team are ready to help Stockport employers understand and prepare for the new legislation.
These changes relate to any baby born or child adopted after 5th April 2015. Under this new system of flexible parental leave, parents will be able to choose how they share care of their child in the first year after birth.
Introduced by the government in recognition of the important role that fathers (and same sex partners) play, it will give expectant couples greater flexibility in the way they can use maternity leave.
According to estimates from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), there are expected to be around 285,000 working couples who will be eligible to share their leave from April.
Eligible couples will be able to take up to 52 weeks leave between them and 37 weeks of pay can be shared. Couples can choose to share the leave, allowing the other partner to return to work. Alternatively, they may choose to take the time off together and spend the first few months of a baby’s life at home together.
If you would like a free factsheet about Shared Parental Leave or need any further HR advice, please contact Hallidays HR team on 0161 476 8278 or email hr@hallidays.co.uk