Shared parental leave (SPL) is an entitlement that lets parents share leave after the birth of a baby or adoption.

When an employee or their partner ends their maternity or adoption pay early, they can take the remaining leave as SPL. If they qualify, they can also receive shared parental pay (ShPP).

The employee can take all the leave themselves, or share it. If they share it, they can take leave at the same time as their partner. They must take SPL before the baby’s first birthday, or within one year of adoption. For more information about SPL and ShPP visit www.gov.uk.

 TIP: If you need to process ShPP for a mother or adopter, visit our Set up shared parental pay (ShPP) for a mother or adopter guide.

Set up ShPP

You must have processed statutory parental pay before you can set up ShPP. If you haven't processed this yet, click the relevant link below to view the steps:

• Enter statutory paternity pay (SPP) via the employee's record
• Process statutory paternity pay (adoption) (SPP(A)

If you've done this, follow the steps to process ShPP.

1. Double-click the relevant employee.
2. Click the Absence tab.
3. Click S.P.P or S.P.P.(A).
4. On the Dates tab, click Shared Parental Pay.
5. If details appear for a previous child, click Clear Values, then click Shared Parental Pay again.
6. Enter the following information:

   Declaration to take Shared Parental Leave and Pay	Once your employee has informed you they intend to take shared parental leave (SPL), select this check box.
   Number of Weeks Available	Enter the total number of weeks available for SPL as shown on the declaration you received from your employee.
   Number of Weeks Being Taken	Enter the number of weeks the employee wants to take as SPL. This can't be more than the value entered in Number of Weeks Available.
   Number of Weeks Recorded	This value shows the number of weeks of SPL processed to date.
   Forenames	Enter the forename/s for the employee's partner.
   Surname	Enter the surname of the employee's partner. This information is required, as it forms part of your next full payment submission (FPS).
   N.I. Number	Enter the national insurance (NI) number for the employee's partner.

7. Click OK.
8. To return to the employee record, click OK.
9. Click OK, then click OK.
10. Click Save, then click Close.

 TIP: You can now process ShPP for the partner. 

Pension contributions

When an employee receives statutory parental pay, you need to pay employer pension contributions based on their full pay, not the statutory payment.

To find out how, visit the how to handle employer pension contributions for employees receiving statutory pay article.