Is SPL suitable?


SPL may not be suitable if, for example: 



• the mother wants to take her whole 52-weeks’ leave;




• the person wanting to take the SPL is not an employee, or is an employee whose partner cannot pass the “employment and earnings” test;




• the mother has a contractual right to enhanced maternity or adoption pay that is not also offered to employees taking SPL;




• other statutory employment rights, such as the right to request flexible working or to take unpaid parental leave, are more suited to a couple’s situation;




• the request is for discontinuous leave (see above) and the employer has failed to agree; or




• there are wider financial and family implications, such as job security concerns, illness, pensions issues and so on.




SPL is not normally suitable for the first six weeks of leave because it is paid at a flat weekly rate (just £ 145.18 or 90% of earnings if less (April 2018)) from day one. By contrast, the first six weeks of statutory maternity and adoption pay are paid at 90% of actual earnings (see page 302). 




If SPL is not chosen at the start, it is possible to opt in at a later stage if the parents still qualify. By contrast, if SPL is chosen at the start and circumstances change, a member cannot opt back into maternity or adoption leave save in very limited circumstances.