Parents who wish to consume Shared Parental Leave (SPL) non-continuously (flexibly) within 12 months of their child's birth can do so, subject to their employers' mutual agreement. In the absence of mutual agreement, eligible parents are entitled to consume their allocated share of SPL in a continuous block within the first 26 weeks (6 calendar months) of the child's birth. Employers cannot reject the leave request, if the parent has informed employers at least four weeks prior to consuming the SPL in such a manner.

As per prevailing guidelines, primary leave schemes (i.e., Government Paid Maternity Leave (GPML), Government-Paid Paternity Leave (GPPL) or Adoption Leave for Mothers (AL)) must be exhausted prior to the commencement of SPL.