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MNHQ

Shared Parental Leave: share your views and you could win £300! NOW CLOSED

354 replies

AnnMumsnet · 17/03/2015 09:06

Parents with children due or adopted from 5 April will be among the first to take advantage of Shared Parental Leave. To coincide with its introduction Shared Parental Leave, we have been asked by the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills to find out what you think about this new policy for parents.

The team there say "From April 2015, parents will have greater choice and flexibility over how they share the care of their child in the first year of their life. Shared Parental Leave allows working couples share up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of pay in a way that suits their work and family needs. For example, parents can take time off together or they can tag team, stopping and starting leave and returning to work in between if they wish.
Check your eligibility and how much pay you can get here. We'd love to know what you think about this and how you'd use it for your family."

So, please have a look at the information provided here and let us know on this thread what you think. If you or your partner is pregnant and your baby is due from 5 April do you think you'll use it? Would you have used it when you had your last child if it had been an option? Do you think you will share leave with your partner if you have children in the future? How would it work in your family?

Have a look at the video:

Add your comment by 30 March 2015 at 9am and you'll be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher for the store of your choice (from a list). Insight T&Cs apply

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

OP posts:
workadurka · 27/03/2015 15:22

Makes no difference unfortunately Yonic, they have to provide a place for BFing mothers to rest but not necessarily a suitable place to express or feed.

Barbiedoll79 · 27/03/2015 16:07

We are due twins in November and have a 3yo lg I am a childminder and this means I have no spaces to return to work so I can't make the most of the scheme. I would have lived for my husband to be able to be off with us but because I am self employed we just can't afford it. Think it's a fantastic idea in theory

JassyRadlett · 27/03/2015 16:08

Sorry I was wrong - it's a requirement to provide facilities for breastfeeding mothers, but not explicitly for expressing.

Pimientos100 · 27/03/2015 18:23

I think this is a fantastic idea. It wouldn't have worked personally for us as my husbands job has to much responsibility to enable it to work. It is great that this option is now available as life is not simple, everyone has different circumstances and needs, finally a policy that acknowledges this and is responsive to it!

YonicScrewdriver · 27/03/2015 18:25

"my husbands job has to much responsibility to enable it to work"

Is he the President?!

Do any women do his job?

cristalfiona · 28/03/2015 12:41

I think it's a great idea, as it seems to be fully flexible depending on your circumstances

sweir1 · 28/03/2015 13:58

I just don't see how the benefits are going to be that great. It get nowhere near addressing the issues of expensive childcare for parents which ultimately can lead mums to feeling as though it is a family or a career but never both.

dragon60 · 28/03/2015 18:59

Its good that there is the option, it gives families flexibility to choose what suits them best.

mumpetuk · 28/03/2015 21:23

we both work for my dad so we are pretty lucky in that department

superkittycat · 29/03/2015 03:25

I think it's a great idea & allows for so much more flexibility! I also think it's more reflective of the change in household circumstances - fathers are able to take more of a role in childcare now, it's not just a "woman's job". Very positive!

Ryancrawshaw · 29/03/2015 07:42

I Don't think it would have worked for us, I get up for all nights feds and my other half is a nightmare if woken up for us for him to go back to work and as the higher paid earner was the best option. cover at work is difficult and even now we are both back at work cover for sick days etc is hard for both employers

nerysw · 29/03/2015 08:32

Too late for me too but I think it's a great idea for those who can, and want to take it up.

mulgrove · 29/03/2015 13:46

I think its fab and wish it was in place when i had my little boy would of made my life a lot easy

LittleMy1 · 29/03/2015 14:17

It's a good firat atep to enabling both parents to help look after the child and we will use it to some extent. However, the reimbursement level is ridiculous. Less than the minimum wage! In reality, with the existing gender gap in incomes, most families will still be forced to let the mum take most of the parental leave which in turn impacts on women's career opportunities.

ikkle87 · 29/03/2015 14:19

I think its a good idea but like someone has mentioned earlier I would like to see fathers be offered the same extensive maternity packages. I think we would have used joint leave at the beginning after having our son as I was very ill. In the end my OH had to take annual leave instead

YonicScrewdriver · 29/03/2015 14:24

Many companies do not offer more than statutory maternity; for those that do I assume they will move to enhanced APL at some point.

Kangakate · 29/03/2015 14:26

I think it's a great idea, now we can decide, who takes what time off, so dad's can have longer if they want. Especially if the mother is the higher earner, then it may be more financially viable for the father to be off longer

JassyRadlett · 29/03/2015 16:15

I checked this week - my employer is offering the same enhanced package as maternity leave for men taking shared parental leave, with some caveats - the main one being that if both parents work there, they split the enhanced entitlement between them.

cookinmummy · 29/03/2015 16:20

I thinks its a fantastic idea. I think it will provide many young families with more flexibility and gives Dads an equal opportunity to enjoy those early months. x

balloon66 · 29/03/2015 16:21

I wouldn't have wanted this if it had been available and I know hubbie wouldn't either. May stop some employers assuming all women are going to take maternity leave when they employ them though!

krnries · 29/03/2015 16:21

I'm really pleased that the law has changed to make this leave as equal as possible. It might not have changed anything for me, because I had a year off, but now that parents know about this ruling, they can plan appropriately.

alison991 · 29/03/2015 18:35

It is a good idea, some families will need the flexibillity

MissPoppins · 29/03/2015 19:17

I think its a great idea, so many men miss out on the early weeks because they cant afford to have the time off. Im not sure how many people would sign up for this, but i think its a great idea

laurapotz · 29/03/2015 19:39

I think it's a great idea. It wouldn't have changed what we did, but for many it means greater equality and flexibility.

brumpton · 29/03/2015 20:03

I think it is a very good idea however it is very unlikely to be used in my household.