Sharing Maternity and Paternity Leave - Help Really Needed

[Flowerpot26]

I've tried looking on a few websites but none of them help answer my question......

I will be returning to work at the beginning of April.

My husband will be taking additional paternity leave from 23rd April to look after our children as he cannot take it any earlier as it cannot start until 20 weeks after the baby was born.

My question is......as I will be returning to work on 2nd April there will be a three week period before my husband can start his paternity leave. Is a gap of three weeks allowed between me returning to work and him then going on paternity leave AND during that three week period will the maternity/paternity period still continue to count i.e. these weeks count as weeks gone even if neither of us are taking them as maternity/paternity leave(if that makes sense?).

 

[Dinah93]

I believe you can have a gap from reading our HR policy at work, so legally it's allowed. You're right in saying it will still continue to 'count' - so you'll only get a total maximum of 49 weeks rather than 52 between you.