TYPES OF LEAVE AND PAY AVAILABLE
There are several types of statutory leave and pay available to workers in the UK, every one of which, except for maternity leave and pay, are available to both genders. Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) Paid by employers to employees earning above the Lower Earnings Limit for National Insurance, if they are sick for a period longer than 4 consecutive days but less than 28 weeks. In 2018-19 the weekly SSP rate is £92.05. Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) Paid by employers to female workers so they can take time off work both before and after a baby is born, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria for both earnings and length of employment. SMP is paid for a maximum period of 39 weeks. It is paid: ● ● for the first six weeks at 90% of the employee’s average gross weekly earnings with no upper limit ● ● for the remaining 33 weeks at the lower of either the standard rate of £145.18 (in 2018-19) or 90% of the employee’s average gross weekly earnings. Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) Paid by employers to employees whose partner is having a baby, adopting a child or having a baby through a surrogacy arrangement. Eligible employees can choose to take either one or two weeks of paternity leave but this must be taken in one continuous block. In 2018-19 the statutory weekly rate of Paternity Pay is £145.18, or 90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings (whichever is lower). Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP) Paid by an employer to an employee who takes time off to adopt a child or have a child through a surrogacy arrangement as long as they meet the eligibility criteria for both earnings and length of employment. SMP is paid for a maximum period of 39 weeks. It is paid: ● ● for the first six weeks at 90% of the employee’s average gross weekly earnings with no upper limit ● ● for the remaining 33 weeks at the lower of either the standard rate of £145.18 (in 2018-19) or 90% of the employee’s average gross weekly earnings. Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) Employees may be able to get Shared Parental Leave (SPL) and Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) if they’ve had a baby or adopted a child. Employees can take SPL if they and their partner meet the eligibility criteria for earnings and employment and they or their partner have ended their maternity or adoption leave or pay early. The remaining leave will be available as SPL. The remaining pay may be available as ShPP.
Employees can take SPL in up to three separate blocks. They can also share the leave with their partner if they’re also eligible. Parents can choose how much of the SPL each of them will take.
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IS THERE A GENDER GAP WHEN TAKING STATUTORY LEAVE OF ABSENCE?
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