Shared parental leave changes come into effect next month. Are you ready?

New rights for shared parental leave become available to employees expecting a child on or after 5 April 2015. What steps have you taken? Have you updated or developed a policy, for example? 

April 2015 new legislation will allow parents to convert maternity leave and pay into shared parental leave and pay. Shared parental leave means that eligible fathers and partners will be able to request more leave from work in the first year following their child’s birth. Because it is shareable, there will also be cases where eligible mothers will return to work early because the child’s father or their partner is taking leave in their place. 

In December 2014 I wrote in more detail about the practical implications of shared parental leave, including five steps you should take and a template policy you might consider using. I also gave links to TUC guidance and ACAS guidance that explained the new rights and how these work. 

You can read this equality news here