Government has announced that Shared Parental Leave will be extended to Grandparents
The total of 50 weeks of leave will not be extended, but parents will be able to share up to 50 weeks of leave and up to 37 weeks of parental leave pay, currently £139.58 a week or 90% of average weekly earnings, whichever is lower, with a nominated working grandparent.
The plan was announced by Chancellor George Osborne at the Conservative conference in Manchester. He said it was hoped this would allow working parents to return to work more quickly, with the Conservatives believing the policy will particularly benefit single mothers, who cannot currently choose to share parental leave.
He said: "Research shows two million grandparents have either given up a job, reduced their hours or taken time off work to look after their grandchildren.
"Allowing them instead to share leave with their children will keep thousands more in the workplace, which is good for our economy."
Comment: Shared parental leave as not really taken off as yet with couple choosing to swap their parental leave entitlement so it will be interesting to see in reality the impact of this latest extension as to who can use it.
Note: Don't worry too much just yet - the Government's aim is to bring this in by 2018 and will consult on the details during the first half of 2016 to who can use it.
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