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The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act
The UK government has rolled out some important changes to parental leave rights with the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act. This new law is all about giving extra support to parents of premature or sick newborns, offering them more leave and financial help. It’s designed to ease the emotional and financial burden that comes with extended neonatal hospital stays.
What’s Changing? The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act introduces extra leave for parents whose babies need neonatal care. Here’s what you need to know:
Up to 12 Weeks of Extra Leave: Parents can take up to 12 additional weeks of neonatal leave on top of their existing maternity, paternity, or shared parental leave.
Statutory Neonatal Pay: Those eligible will get statutory neonatal pay during this extra leave period, similar to other family-related statutory payments.
Who Qualifies?: This leave applies to parents whose babies are admitted to neonatal care for at least seven consecutive days within the first 28 days of life.
Job Protection: Taking neonatal leave means your job is safe, just like with maternity or paternity leave. Employers can’t penalise you for taking this time off.
Who Can Get It? Both parents – including adoptive and same-sex parents – can benefit from this new leave, as long as they meet the following conditions:
They’re employed (not self-employed or ineligible for statutory payments).
Their baby has been in neonatal care for at least seven continuous days.
They meet the required tenure and earnings criteria to qualify for statutory neonatal pay.
What Employers Need to Know Employers will need to update their policies and systems to stay compliant. Here are some key things they should consider:
Tracking Eligibility: Making sure they have a process in place to check who qualifies for neonatal leave and pay.
Payroll Adjustments: Ensuring their payroll systems can handle statutory neonatal pay.
Workforce Planning: Preparing for extended leave periods and making sure workloads are managed smoothly.
Policy Updates: Updating employee handbooks and contracts to reflect the new rights.
When Does This Come into Effect? The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act was passed in 2023 and is set to take effect from April 2025. That means employers and HR teams should start prepping now to make sure they’re ready when the law kicks in.
This new law is a game-changer for parents with babies needing neonatal care. It gives them the time and financial support to focus on what really matters – their child’s health. Employers should take steps now to get their policies in line and ensure they’re ready to support their staff when these changes come into force.
