Shared Parental Leave


When I had just given birth to my second child, my son Little A, Mr B was there for me in every way possible. It was wonderful to have his support in getting some extra sleep, helping with Midge who was 3 years old at the time and still having sleep troubles, including frequent night terrors. The only thing I wish is that we could have spent even more time together. I know for a fact at the time he wished he could stay to spend more time with his newborn son, to help me in the night (he worked lates and often nights) when Midge would wake and then Little A would wake needing a feed or a nappy change. 

Since April 2015 in the UK the government has put in place Shared Parental Leave, meaning partners can now take time off together (longer than the 2 week paternity leave currently available to fathers and what my Husband had at the time) or they can split the leave allowing their partner or the Father to now spend more quality time with their child(ren) in the first year of their child's life. What's great is that those who adopt now have the same entitlement to shared parental leave as well.

All of this can be very confusing however, which is why GoToMeeting have produced a simple, easy to read and follow info-graphic


Although right now I feel content with my 2 little ones, in the very near future I will be working and who knows what the future brings? I welcome Shared Parental Leave and think it's great. I hope it helps a lot of new parents. What do you think?

Cupcake Mumma

*This post was written in partnership with GoToMeeting*

6 comments:

  1. WOW....at a time when things here in states keep getting cut back farther and farther, fewer employee benefits, employers getting down right stingy it sounds like quite a luxury. I hit a milestone this year, the medicare milestone so that tells you how old I am. My DD is 30+, when she was born I was pressed to get 6 wks off which was the standard maternity leave at the time. In fact I worked from home throughout my "time off". I did payroll and insurance work and hubby would take stuff to the office and pick up stuff for me to do every couple of days. I was in contact via phone with my assistant almost daily helping her make decisions. I was the office manager for a 3 physicians medical practice and my being off was difficult on the office. Hubby didn't take anytime off. I delivered on a Friday and he was back at work on Monday. I don't know how people would financially be able to not go to work at a time that's expensive...all those extra doctor appointments etc.

    Sandy at Bridge and Beyond

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    1. Thanks so much for your comment it's always fascinating to see how other countries work their legislations etc. over here I know a lot of people find it tough to get by and some find it slightly easier. With this option now one can stay at home and the other work and then switch to spend that first year at home at some point. I don't think we feel the pinch as much over her appointment wise most of us are very lucky to be under NHS care and can work times around what suits us (if you get a friendly receptionist!) It's so interesting to read how different things were,'that I would've found very difficult. Here I moan about two weeks but goodness two days! How lucky were are!

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  2. I think that it's an idea whose time has come: when I was having babies, many Dads were less keen to spend time with newborns, and it's really great that they want to now x

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    1. My Mum actually said the same, I also think it's great things have shifted my Husband loves the time he has but would've loved more x

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  3. I agree, I think it's nice for the dads to spend more time with their newborns (and older children) - this new initiative sounds very supportive. Maybe you'll get to benefit from it one day ;)

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