Neonatal Care leave & pay effective from 6 April 2025

The Government has announced that starting 6 April 2025, working families with babies in neonatal care for seven consecutive days or more within the first 28 days from birth will be entitled to additional time off work as a day-one right. This new measure is expected to benefit approximately 60,000 new parents.

Eligible parents will be able to take up to 12 weeks of neonatal care leave, with pay if they qualify, in addition to any other leave they are entitled to, such as maternity and paternity leave. Employers can also choose to enhance the level of pay to provide further support to their employees during this challenging time.

This new legislative protection aims to give parents some peace of mind, allowing them to focus entirely on their newborn’s health without the pressure of returning to work too quickly. Employers should prepare for this change by updating their policies and ensuring they are ready to handle new leave requests.

If you or your organisation would like to learn more about neonatal care leave and pay and how it may affect you, please contact our Employment Law team.

This update contains general information only and does not constitute legal or other professional advice.