Shared parental leave Q&A

Question:

I have a question about SPLIT days – there are going to be 20 of them in the new scheme, but could they all be taken by just one of the parents/carers? Is the scheme expecting that by doubling this facility, both parents should take them?

And what about timing, does it matter when they’re taken?

Answer:

The SPLIT days are 20 days per employee so each could take 20 with their employer or if both worked in the same place 40 days between them! They are additional to 10 days under maternity leave and they can be taken at any time during the shared parental leave. So they could be in a block, odd days here and there, at the end, in the middle or at the beginning, whatever the parties agree. It could be that only one parent takes any as neither is obliged to take any and cannot be forced to by the employer.