Shared Parental Leave and Pay: employer guide
Blocks of leave
An employee taking Shared Parental Leave (SPL) can split their leave into up to 3 separate blocks instead of taking it all in one go, even if they are not sharing the leave with their partner.
If both parents are taking SPL then they can take their leave at the same time as each other or at different times.
The employee must give you at least 8 weeks’ notice before a block of leave begins.
Splitting blocks
If you agree, the employee can split a block of leave into shorter periods of at least a week. For example they could work every other week during a 12-week block, using a total of 6 weeks of their SPL.
You cannot turn down a request for a block of leave if the employee is eligible and gives you the right notice. You do not have to agree to the employee breaking the block of leave into shorter periods.