Thousands of working families with babies in neonatal care will be entitled to additional time off as a day one right, the government has confirmed today (Monday 20 January).
Currently, many working families across the UK are having to return to work while their babies are sick in hospital, and these measures aim to address some of the difficulties that thousands of parents face when their baby is in neonatal care.
The Government is committed to providing the support families need to allow them to be by their child’s side without having to work throughout or use up their existing leave.
Neonatal Care Leave will apply to parents of babies who are admitted into neonatal care up to 28 days old and who have a continuous stay in hospital of 7 full days or longer. These measures will allow eligible parents to take up to 12 weeks of leave (and, if eligible, pay) on top of any other leave they may be entitled to, including maternity and paternity leave.
The government has today laid regulations to implement the change, which subject to Parliamentary approval, will take effect from 6 April 2025 and follows the passing of the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act in 2023.
This measure comes alongside the Employment Rights Bill and delivers on the government’s commitment to support families and protect the payslips of working people as part of the Plan for Change.