Shared Parental Leave Factsheet

Shared Parental Leave (“SPL”) is a type of leave which, in effect, allows eligible parents to share maternity/ adoption leave between them.

SPL only applies to those with babies due on or after 5 April 2015, or with children placed with them for adoption on or after 5 April 2015.  Further, it applies in England, Scotland and Wales but not in Northern Ireland. 

There is no obligation on an employee to take SPL and the default position is that an employee will take their Statutory Maternity Leave or Statutory Adoption Leave unless they indicate otherwise.