The Learn Library · Collection
For parents considering sharing leave or pay between them.
Shared Parental Leave (SPL) lets eligible parents share up to 50 weeks of leave and up to 37 weeks of pay between them in the first year after a birth or adoption. It exists so families don't have to default to "one parent takes everything, the other takes a fortnight" — but the rules can be intimidating until you've seen them mapped out.
To unlock SPL, the birth parent has to "curtail" their maternity leave at a chosen end date. The remaining weeks become SPL, which can then be taken by either parent, in blocks, separately, together, or in one stretch. Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) is paid at the same statutory rate as SMP after the first 6 weeks.
Whether SPL is worth it depends on your situation: enhanced policies, your earnings, who's the higher earner, whether you want overlapping leave, and what your employers will agree to. SPL blocks of 1 week or more are a statutory right; longer continuous blocks generally need employer approval, and most employers say yes.
The articles in this collection walk through eligibility, curtailment, the pay rules, blocks vs continuous leave, and how to decide if SPL is right for your family.
Paternity & SPL
A quick 3-minute guide to Shared Parental Leave — how much leave and pay can be shared, who qualifies, how flexible it is, and the trade-offs to weigh up before choosing SPL.
Paternity & SPL
A plain-English guide to Shared Parental Leave in the UK — how SPL works, who qualifies, how much leave and pay are available, and the trade-offs to weigh up before deciding.
Compare SPL scenarios alongside maternity, paternity and annual leave — and see the pay impact, week by week, for both parents.
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