The government confirmed on 20th January that working families with babies in neonatal care will be entitled to additional time off as a day one right. This will take effect from 6th April 2025.
According to gov.uk, the introduction of this new right will benefit around 60,000 new parents, allowing parents to focus on supporting their family without the worry of having to prioritise work over their baby’s care.
What changes will the Act bring?
Many campaign groups have advocated for this Act to pass, which will provide parents of newborns with some much-needed relief. The Act grants both parents up to 12 weeks of paid leave, in addition to maternity and paternity leave.
Neonatal leave will be available to employees from their first day in a new job. It applies to both parents of babies who are admitted to hospital up to the age of 28 days, provided the baby has a continuous stay in hospital of 7 full days or more. The leave must be taken in the first 68 weeks of the baby’s birth.
Who will this benefit?
With many working families across the country having to return to work while their babies are sick in the hospital, the measures within the Act aim to alleviate the hardships of balancing work with a family crisis. The government’s implementation of the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act reflects a culture of support and protection for families facing adversity.
This Act aims to position the workplace as more compatible with people’s lives outside of work, offering stronger protection against unfair dismissals of new mothers or pregnant women.
Hear from Our People and Culture Manager
Our People and Culture Manager, Eleanor Taylor, believes this new legislation is vital in supporting working parents:
“This new legislation is a crucial step in supporting working parents during challenging times. We welcome the introduction of neonatal leave, which enables parents to focus on their child’s health without the added stress of work commitments.”
Contact Eleanor Taylor today at [email protected] to learn more about how we can support working parents and create a more compassionate workplace.
