From 06 April 2025, a new statutory entitlement to neonatal care leave and pay for parents whose babies require neonatal care is coming into force. This new right is in addition to existing parental leave entitlements.
To be eligible for this entitlement, employees must meet the following criteria:
- Be the child’s parent or intended parent
- Have responsibility for the child’s upbringing
- The baby must be receiving neonatal care within 28 days of the birth and continue without interruption for at least seven days
Leave
Eligible employees can take one week of leave for each full week that the baby is receiving neonatal care, up to a maximum of 12 weeks.
Pay
To receive statutory neonatal pay, employees must have at least 26 weeks of continuous service with their employer. Pay is set at a weekly statutory rate.
The employee must inform their employer about the neonatal care in order to be entitled to the leave, therefore it is vital for companies to communicate this new entitlement to avoid any misunderstanding or issues. Companies should:
- Provide a policy outlining the entitlements, eligibility criteria, notice requirements
- Train line managers to understand the entitlements and the associated processes
The aim of this new entitlement is to support parents during this challenging period, providing time to care for a newborn with medical complications, and without the immediate pressure of returning to work.
For a Neonatal Care Leave and Pay Policy or to discuss a family related employee matter, please reach out to our HR Consultants on 0345 646 0406 or fill in our online enquiry form and we will be in touch.