Neonatal Care Leave From Day One
Thousands of UK Families to Benefit from Neonatal Care Leave as a Day One Right
This month, a press release from the Department for Business and Trade announced that thousands of working families in the UK will soon have the right to additional time off when their newborns require neonatal care.
This new measure, set to take effect from 6 April 2025, will provide much-needed support to parents facing the stress and challenges of having a baby in hospital.
The regulations are still subject to parliamentary approval but, if passed, will grant parents up to 12 weeks of leave when their baby is admitted to neonatal care within 28 days of birth.
Addressing a Critical Gap in Parental Leave
Currently, many working parents in the UK must return to work while their babies remain in neonatal care. This situation can create financial and logistical challenges for families. To address this, the government has introduced Neonatal Care Leave, which will allow eligible parents to take up to 12 additional weeks of leave. This entitlement is in addition to existing maternity and paternity leave, ensuring that parents have more time to be with their child without using their other leave entitlements.
The leave applies to parents of babies who are admitted into neonatal care within the first 28 days of life and who require a continuous hospital stay of at least seven days. Alongside this leave entitlement, eligible parents will also receive Statutory Neonatal Care Pay, provided they meet minimum earnings and continuity of service requirements.
New right to neonatal care leave and pay confirmed from 6 April, expected to benefit around 60,000 new parents.
Measures ensure employed parents can focus on supporting their new family without worrying about choosing between keeping their job and spending time with their baby.
A Landmark Step in Employment Rights
The government has laid regulations to implement this change, following the passing of the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act in 2023. This measure aligns with the broader Employment Rights Bill, which aims to strengthen worker protections across the UK. The move is part of the government’s Plan for Change, which seeks to ensure working families are not financially penalised for needing time to care for their children.
Employment Rights Minister Justin Madders emphasized the significance of this new entitlement, stating:
“Parents of children in neonatal care have more than enough to worry about without being concerned about how much annual leave they have left or whether they’ll be able to make ends meet. This entitlement will deliver certainty to them and their employers, setting baseline protections that give them the peace of mind to look after the one thing that matters most – their newborn baby.”
Unlike some existing parental benefits, neonatal care leave will be a “day one right,” meaning employees will be entitled to it from their first day in a new job. This ensures that no parent is forced to choose between their job and their child’s health due to insufficient time accrued in their workplace.
Advocates Welcome the Change
The introduction of Neonatal Care Leave has been met with widespread support from advocacy groups who have long fought for better parental rights. Catriona Ogilvy, founder of The Smallest Things, a charity that supports families with premature and sick babies, expressed her delight at the announcement. She highlighted the profound stress parents experience during a neonatal stay, emphasising that no parent should have to worry about work or finances while caring for their child.
“This much-needed additional leave and pay means parents and carers can be with their baby in hospital,” said Ogilvy. “The new law will give families essential time at home to bond, begin to recover from trauma, and care for a fragile baby without the pressure of finances or returning to work too soon.”
Caroline Lee-Davey, Chief Executive at Bliss, an organisation supporting babies born prematurely or sick, underscored the critical importance of this measure.
“At Bliss, we know just how important it is that babies born premature or sick have both parents at their side in neonatal care during their challenging first weeks and months of life. The lack of additional parental leave rights has forced many to make the unimaginable choice to return to work while their baby is desperately ill. That is why Bliss is so proud to have led campaigning for this Act, which will provide thousands of employed parents every year with the assurance that they can take the time to be with their sick baby when they need it most.”
Policy Changes For Working Families
The introduction of neonatal care leave as a day one right represents a policy change aimed at improving support for working families. By allowing parents to take leave during critical moments in their newborn’s care, the measure acknowledges the need for a balance between family responsibilities and professional obligations. With implementation set for 2025, this reform is expected to provide additional flexibility to thousands of families navigating neonatal care while maintaining their employment.
Further guidance is expected to be issued for both employees and employers in due course.
Source: Gov.uk
