For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.

Employees also bound by 52 other Acts (top 5 shown)

Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (current NI employment law) 1996 13 duties
The Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) Regulations 2003 2003 10 duties
Paternity and Adoption Leave Regulations 2002 2002 9 duties
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (England/Wales comparison) 2005 4 duties
Employment Rights Act 1996 1996 4 duties

Employers also bound by 169 other Acts (top 5 shown)

The Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) Regulations 2003 2003 196 duties
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 1998 98 duties
TULRCA 1992 1992 46 duties
Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (current NI employment law) 1996 45 duties
WTR 1998 1998 36 duties

What this Act requires

Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.

Part 1

Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

s.001

Citation and commencement

s.002

Application

s.003

Interpretation

Part 2

s.008

Mother’s notice of entitlement and intention to take shared parental leave

Ensure employees provide correct notice for Shared Parental Leave Employee

s.009

Father’s or partner’s notice of entitlement and intention to take shared parental leave

Employee must provide notice of entitlement to shared parental leave Employee

s.011

Variation of notice of intention to take shared parental leave (birth)

Provide written notice to change shared parental leave plans Employee

s.012

Period of leave notice (birth)

Submit a written notice of dates for Shared Parental Leave Employee

s.013

Continuous period of shared parental leave (birth)

Grant shared parental leave for continuous period requests Employee

s.014

Discontinuous periods of shared parental leave (birth)

Respond to requests for discontinuous shared parental leave Employer

s.018

Change of circumstances (birth)

Require employee to take leave if shared parental leave cancelled and can't accommodate return

Browse 9 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

s.004

Mother’s entitlement to shared parental leave

s.005

Father’s or partner’s entitlement to shared parental leave

s.006

Calculation of total amount of shared parental leave available (birth)

s.007

Periods when shared parental leave may be taken

s.010

Supplementary evidence requirements (birth)

s.015

Variation of period of leave (birth)

s.016

Limit on number of period of leave notices or variations (birth)

s.017

Modification of eight week requirement for notices where child born early

s.019

Entitlement to shared parental leave in the event of the death of mother, father or partner, or child

Part 3

s.024

Adopter’s notice of entitlement and intention to take shared parental leave

Provide your employer with notice of shared parental leave (adoption) Employee

s.025

Adopter’s partner’s notice of entitlement and intention to take shared parental leave

Adopter’s partner must provide notice of shared parental leave entitlement Employee

s.027

Variation of notice of intention to take shared parental leave (adoption)

Provide written notice to change shared parental leave (adoption) plans Employee

s.028

Period of leave notice (adoption)

Submit a written notice of leave dates for shared parental leave (adoption) Employee

s.029

Continuous period of shared parental leave (adoption)

Grant shared parental leave for continuous blocks of time Employee

s.030

Discontinuous periods of shared parental leave (adoption)

Respond to requests for discontinuous shared parental leave Employer

Browse 9 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

s.020

Adopter’s entitlement to shared parental leave

s.021

Adopter’s partner’s entitlement to shared parental leave

s.022

Calculation of total amount of shared parental leave available (adoption)

s.023

Periods when shared parental leave may be taken (adoption)

s.026

Supplementary evidence (adoption)

s.031

Variation of period of leave (adoption)

s.032

Limit on number of period of leave notices or variations (adoption)

s.033

Change of circumstances (adoption)

s.034

Entitlement to shared parental leave in the event of a disrupted placement or the death of adopter, adopter’s partner or child

Part 4

Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

s.035

Continuity of employment test

s.036

Employment and earnings test

Part 5

s.039

Redundancy : shared parental leave

Offer suitable alternative employment when making an employee on shared parental leave redundant

Browse 7 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

s.037

Work during shared parental leave

s.038

Application of terms and conditions during shared parental leave

s.040

Right to return after shared parental leave

s.041

Right to return after shared parental leave: supplementary

s.042

Protection from detriment

s.043

Unfair dismissal

s.044

Calculation of a week’s pay for the purposes of Chapter 2 of Part 14 of the 1996 Act

Part 6

Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

s.045

Contractual rights to shared parental leave

s.046

Service of notices

Other sections — not classified into a Part

These sections exist in the Act but the contents-of-Parts walker did not place them under a Part. Likely amendments or sections inserted out of the original Part structure.

Browse 1 other unclassified section

s.shared parental leave in special circumstances

SHARED PARENTAL LEAVE IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

Read the full Act on legislation.gov.uk

Official guidance

Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.

Shared Parental Leave and Pay - eligibility and how to apply (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Acas — managing maternity leave and pay (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Recover statutory payments from HMRC (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Employee rights when on leave (KIT days, redundancy, holiday) (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Adoption pay and leave (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Shared Parental Leave and Pay — employer guide (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Maternity pay and leave — employee guide (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Statutory Maternity Pay and Leave — employer guide (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Paternity pay and leave (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
ACAS guidance on Employment Rights Act 2025 (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance

Enforcement and responsible bodies

The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.

HMRC

Primary

HM Revenue & Customs

Tax collection, customs duties, national insurance, tax credits, and enforcement of the National Minimum Wage. Regulates all UK businesses for tax compliance …

Employment Tribunal

HM Courts and Tribunals Service — Employment Tribunals

Statutory tribunal enforcing individual employment-rights legislation across Great Britain. Hears complaints under the Employment Rights Act 1996 (unfair dismissal, written particulars, time …

At a glance

Who this Act binds

Step-by-step journeys using this legislation

Relevant guidance

Direct — cites this Act

Mentioned in related content

Other Acts binding the same actors