Shared Parental Leave law now in effect

Parents in work can now share responsibility for looking after their newborn or newly adopted child as Shared Parental Leave law has become effective from 5 April 2015.

Eligible couples whose child is due on or after Sunday 5 April 2015 are able to share up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of pay in the first year of their child’s life. Couples who adopt a child can share the same benefits as parents to the first year of the child’s adoption.

Parents can take the time off at the same time as each other or separately.

You can find out more on these new employee rights on the government website.

For more information on this topic, including disciplinary and redundancy advice we offer as part of our business support package for members, please follow this link to our Employment Publications. The BWF has a number of resources that members can download including these guides and template documents:
 

• Terms of employment template
• Employee Handbook template
• Disciplinary guidance
• Long term sickness guidance
• Tribunal guidance
• Appraisal guidance
• Age Discrimination guidance