Shared parental leave

This guide explains how Shared Parental Leave works and the key information you need to know. You may also want to read our Shared Parental Leave policy (PDF, 432KB). You can find out more about your entitlement in our family friendly leave and pay guide.

You and your partner may be able to use Shared Parental Leave (SPL) and Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) to choose how you care for your child in the first year after:  

• having a baby 
• adopting a child 
• having a baby through a surrogacy arrangement
• fostering a child who you're planning to adopt 

To be eligible to receive SPL or ShPP, the birth parent or primary adopter must be entitled to maternity and adoption leave. Both parents must also be eligible to receive SPL.

If your partner doesn’t work for us, check their employer’s SPL policy. 

Length of service 

If you’re the birth parent, you must be employed continuously by us for at least 26 weeks by the end of the 15th week before the due date.  

If you’re adopting or becoming parents using a surrogate, you must be employed continuously by us for at least 26 weeks before:  

• the end of the week you or your partner are matching with a child you’re adopting 
• the end of the 15th week before the due date if you’re using a surrogate

Your partner must also be continuously employed by their employer (or an eligible self-employed earner) for the same time periods above.