Shared Parental Leave Confusion
Discussion
Help! My wife and I are expecting a child in early July. I want to be there as much as I can.
My wife is expecting to take ~8 months/33 weeks off and her HR policy states 18 weeks at various %'s of pay, then 21 weeks Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP).
My HR policy states I am entitled to 18 weeks at 100% pay (2 weeks Company Paternity, plus 16 weeks Company Shared Parental Pay), followed by Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP).
The intention is for both of us to be off after the birth, preferably for as long as financially possible.
The confusion comes from the line "You can share up to 50 weeks of leave and up to 37 weeks of pay between you" as per the government website.
Does this mean if my wife were to return to work after 8 months (33 weeks planned leave), I would only be eligible for 4 weeks worth of the 100% pay my HR policy says?
I have tried emailing HR at my own company and as it's not something they're used to dealing with (worryingly), I am in for a wait for an answer.
My wife is expecting to take ~8 months/33 weeks off and her HR policy states 18 weeks at various %'s of pay, then 21 weeks Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP).
My HR policy states I am entitled to 18 weeks at 100% pay (2 weeks Company Paternity, plus 16 weeks Company Shared Parental Pay), followed by Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP).
The intention is for both of us to be off after the birth, preferably for as long as financially possible.
The confusion comes from the line "You can share up to 50 weeks of leave and up to 37 weeks of pay between you" as per the government website.
Does this mean if my wife were to return to work after 8 months (33 weeks planned leave), I would only be eligible for 4 weeks worth of the 100% pay my HR policy says?
I have tried emailing HR at my own company and as it's not something they're used to dealing with (worryingly), I am in for a wait for an answer.
With the experience of hindsight, it might be better for one of you to be working as opposed to both off for months initially. You’ll want to keep some of that leave later if you both return to work, it’s also easier to not both spend 24/7 together as neither of you will then get a break.
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