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Changes to entitlements for working parents
baby
The changes to leave and pay entitlements aims to allow fathers to take a greater role in childcare.

Pay and leave entitlements will change from 2015

Statutory pay and leave entitlements for working parents will change on April 5, 2015, to enable fathers to take a greater role in childcare and to help parents manage childcare whilst staying in work.

For businesses, this means they can hold on to their best members of staff, as female employees will in theory be less likely to drop out of the workplace when they start a family.

Parents of babies due (or adopted children placed) on or after April 5, 2015, may be eligible for Shared Parental Leave (SPL) or Shared Parental Pay (ShPP). This will replace the current system of Additional Paternity Leave and Pay.

SPL gives working mothers the option to end their maternity pay and leave early - any time from two weeks after the birth or placement. They can then share their untaken leave and pay with their partner. Similarly, adopters will be able to end their adoption leave and pay early and opt into ShPP.

SPL can be stopped and started and parents can be off at the same time if they wish.

Parents are also able to take leave in phases, e.g 20 weeks off for the mother, followed by 20 weeks for the father, then another 10 weeks of for the mother. Parents must notify their employer of their plans eight weeks before they become eligible for SPL.

All shared leave and pay must be taken between the birth or placement and the child's first birthday.

The current entitlement to 52 weeks statutory maternity or adoption leave, 39 of which is paid, and two weeks statutory paternity leave and pay, remain unchanged.

The first six weeks of Statutory Adoption Pay is set to rise to 90 per cent of average weekly earnings.

The first notifications of intention to take SPL are expected to arrive with employers from February 2015. Parents will be able to use a Government online form, but employers may wish to create their own method for employees to notify them.

Employers may need to update payroll systems to allow for providing Statutory Parental Pay.

Information supplied by permission of Ballams Chartered Accountants, Ipswich

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.