Shared parental leave (ShPL) is an entitlement that means that parents can share leave after the birth of a baby or adoption. If an employee or their partner, ends their maternity or adoption pay early, they can take the remaining leave as ShPL. If they qualify, they can also receive shared parental pay (ShPP).

For more information, read the HMRC article: Statutory Paternity Pay and Leave: employer guide.

If your employee qualifies for ShPP, they’re entitled to:

• Take up to 50 weeks as ShPL
• Take up to 37 weeks as ShPP

The ShPP rate is the lower amount between either:

• £184.03 (2024/25) or £187.18 (2025/26) per week
  or
• 90% of the employee’s Average Weekly Earnings (AWE)

 TIP: A mother must take two weeks compulsory maternity leave following the birth, or four weeks if they work in a factory. 

Can't calculate the AWE

Sometimes, there's no history to calculate the AWE. This can happen if you’ve moved to Sage Payroll from another software provider.

You’ll have to calculate the AWE yourself. It is your responsibility to ensure this is correct.

For more information, read Recording Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP).

Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) - qualifying rules

Recording Shared Parental Pay (ShPP)

Recovering Shared Parental Pay (ShPP)