Shared parental leave will be available to parents of babies due to be born, or placed for adoption, on or after 5th April 2015 – which will mean big changes for families and businesses.

Eligible employees will be allowed a maximum of 52 weeks' leave and 39 weeks' statutory pay upon the birth or adoption of a child, which can be shared between the parents.

Acas has recently published materials to assist employers and employees, which include good practice guides, notification forms for employees that want to take up shared parental leave, letters for an employer to approve shared parental leave and a shared parental leave policy. For access to the Acas materials, please follow this link: http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4911

Click here to read my previous article publisehd in November 2014 'Shared Parental Leave: reality bites'.

Click here to read Richared Isham's article published in December 2014 'Why can't men have babies?'

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.