What is the difference between paternity leave and shared parental leave? How each works

If your partner is having a baby, you may be entitled to take paternity leave or shared parental leave from work.

This gives you time off, with your employment rights protected, to care for your child and support your partner.

Paternity leave lasts for one or two weeks, while shared parental leave gives you a lot longer.

Both are available to new parents whether they are adopting, using a surrogate or having a biological child.

Here's what you need to know about paternity leave and shared parental leave:

Who is eligible for paternity leave?

You are eligible for paternity leave if:

• You are the biological father of the baby
• You are the husband, wife or civil partner of the baby's mother
• You are the intended parent of the child (if you are adopting or using a surrogate)

To qualify for statutory paternity leave, you must also have been working for your employer for 26 consecutive weeks by either:

• The end of the 15th week before the week of the due date
• The end of the week that you find out you have been matched with a child for adoption

Your paternity leave can only start when the baby has been born or adopted, and it must be taken all in one go.

How much is paternity pay?

Statutory paternity pay is either £150.20 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings - whichever is lower.

Your employer may choose to pay you more.

You can take paternity leave if you are the husband, wife or civil partner of the baby's mother (Getty Images/Tetra images RF)

What is shared parental leave?

Shared parental leave allows the baby's two parents to share 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of pay between them.

It must be taken in the first year of the baby's life, but parents can decide how they want to divide it - they can take leave at the same time or separately.

Shared parental leave does not need to be taken in one block. Parents can separate their leave with periods of time back at work.

Who is eligible for shared parental leave?

You can take shared parental leave if you are having a child biologically, or adopting. You must:

• Share responsibility for the child from birth (you can't take shared parental leave if you have come into a baby's life after it was born)
• Meet work and pay criteria similar to paternity leave eligibility criteria

How does it work?

Shared parental leave can only begin once the mother has ended her maternity leave and gone back to work - or given her employer binding notice of when she plans to end the leave.

You can begin shared parental leave while your partner is still on maternity leave - as long as they have given binding notice.

How much is shared parental leave pay?

Shared parental leave pays £151.20 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings - whichever is lower.

If you are taking shared parental leave, you must give your employer eight weeks written notice of your leave dates.

They have the right to ask you for a copy of the birth certificate, a declaration of the date and place of birth, and the name and address of your partner's employer.