In 2024, shared parental leave laws were updated to give new fathers and partners more flexibility in how they take their parental leave. Though this is now a legal requirement, it is still an area that many do not know about.
Shared parental leave policies enable eligible parents to choose how to share the care of their child during their first year following birth or adoption. This should not be confused with ordinary parental leave, which is the entitlement to up to 18 weeks of unpaid leave and is unaffected by shared parental leave. Employed fathers are currently entitled to two weeks of paternity leave at a maximum of £184.03 per week.
It is necessary to note that the first two weeks following birth are the compulsory maternity leave period and these are reserved for the birth mother. This means that the mother cannot curtail her maternity leave to take shared parental leave until two weeks after the birth and the maximum period that parents ccan take shared parental leave is 50 weeks between them, although it will normally be less than this because of the maternity leave that mothers usually take before the birth.
If the father cannot take reduced hours, they may miss out on opportunities to be as fully involved as the child develops in that first year. After a while, the father may not feel as confident looking after the child due to the lack of experience and the baby is more naturally drawn to the mother when needing comfort.
It is, therefore, usually the mother who will be able to identify what is wrong or needs to happen to resolve the situation. This leads to mothers becoming the main caregivers, meaning they may need to sacrifice more of other life areas while their child grows through their formative years.
However, the father or partner can begin a period of shared parental leave at any time from the date of the child’s birth. The partner should bear in mind that they are entitled to take up to two weeks of ordinary paternity leave following the birth of the child, which they will lose if shared parental leave is taken first. The mother and partner must take any shared parental leave within 52 weeks of birth. Paternity leave must be taken within 56 days, or eight weeks, of the birth.
Enabling fathers to take more time off has been proven to enhance not just the experience of new parents, but also the economy. It helps reduce the gender pay gap, which, in turn, benefits the economy as a whole, as well as the post-partum symptoms for women.
A study by The Centre for Progressive Policy (CPP) in April 2025 found that increasing statutory paternity leave to six weeks at 90% full pay would reduce the gender pay gap by 4% and increase economic output by £23 billion. This suggests that fathers taking more time off is a clear benefit for all.
Shared parental leave may not be available to some fathers and may not work for all. However, I hope everyone who is considering having children or adding to their family is aware that this government policy exists and to take advantage of it where it suits. I can see it becoming one of the deciding factors for employees deciding on an employer of choice.
George Tattersall is client business manager at Shaw Gibbs
