SHARED PARENTAL LEAVE AND MATERNITY LEAVE

[han123mum]

Hi, I'm a final year Graphic Design student doing a project on encouraging and raising awareness of Shared Parental Leave and its benefits:

We would be very interested in knowing any issues or obstacles you faced in the research or application process.
Similarly, we would like to know about your successes with SPL (if taken)

Your feedback would be very useful in helping us better the system and encourage equality within parenting.

Here are some questions to get you started:

Anyone looking at using Shared Parental Leave (SPL)?
How easy was it to find out about?
If so how easy was the process when talking to work about it?
Did they have a scheme ready for it?
How easy did it fit into your life?
Did it take a lot of planning?
Could the paper work be easier?
If you chose not to what, put you off doing it?

Here's a link to the gov.uk Shared Parental Leave campaign:
sharedparentalleave.campaign.gov.uk

Thanks so much for your help,
Look forward to hearing from you!

[EnglishRose13]

Anyone looking at using Shared Parental Leave (SPL)? We did it.
How easy was it to find out about? Fairly easy, we have a policy regarding it at work
If so how easy was the process when talking to work about it? Very easy. I was the first employee to do it, I think it helped that my husband was also an employee
Did they have a scheme ready for it? Yes
How easy did it fit into your life? Very easily
Did it take a lot of planning? Not any more so than you'd expect
Could the paper work be easier? I honestly can't remember so I imagine not.

[whatevenisababy]

My DH and I are both in the military so don't know how relevant my answers are to your research
Anyone looking at using Shared Parental Leave (SPL)? I start mine in December
How easy was it to find out about? Very easy, my HR Department were able to direct me to the right paperwork
If so how easy was the process when talking to work about it? They have been very accommodating from both sides
Did they have a scheme ready for it? Yes
How easy did it fit into your life? We'll see. It will be easy for me as I'm taking it in one block, DH will be fitting in weeks where he can around work!
Did it take a lot of planning? Yes! But only because my DH is on various compulsory courses in our DC's first year.
Could the paper work be easier? Yes! It took 3 of us (2 HR reps and me) an hour to discuss how it was supposed to be filled in.