Shared parental pay
Here at the University we have an excellent pay package to support staff who plan to return to work after shared parental leave.
In order to make shared parental leave a realistic option for both parents, the University has decided to provide enhanced shared parental pay which mirrors our maternity/adoption pay, and to make this available to both parents where they intend to return to work following shared parental leave.
In doing this we believe that there will be more likelihood of caring responsibilities being shared, which will help to challenge the cultural and unconscious biases about caring roles and lead to greater gender equality and equality of career opportunity for all.
Are you eligible for pay?
Shared parental pay is only available if the mother/main adopter is entitled to statutory maternity pay or statutory adoption pay or maternity allowance.
If the mother/main adopter does not qualify for one of these, then you may qualify for shared parental leave, but you cannot qualify for pay.
How much will you be paid?
a) If you plan to return to work following your leave and you are eligible for shared parental leave and pay, the amount of leave and pay which can be shared is:
- 24 weeks at full pay*
- 13 weeks at statutory shared parental pay.
- 13 weeks unpaid leave.
*This is 24 not 26 weeks because the mother/main adopter must take at least 2 weeks of maternity/adoption leave before they curtail it.
*Full pay includes statutory shared parental pay. You can only receive this for leave which is taken within the first 26 weeks of the start of the maternity/adoption leave and for weeks in which statutory shared parental pay is payable.
*Please note that you will be required to pay back anything over the statutory pay if you do not return to work for at least 12 weeks following your shared parental leave.
The actual amount which can be shared will depend on when the mother/main adopter chooses to curtail maternity/adoption leave.
b) If you do not intend to return to work following your leave but you are eligible for shared parental leave and pay, the amount of leave and pay which can be shared is:
- 37 weeks at statutory shared parental pay
- 13 weeks unpaid leave.
The actual amount which can be shared will depend on when the mother/main adopter chooses to curtail maternity/adoption leave.
Examples
Here are some examples of how the leave and pay may be shared: