The long-awaited Neonatal Leave and Pay provisions, introduced under the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023, have now been confirmed to commence on Sunday 6 April 2025. This milestone legislation was passed in 2023, but its implementation date has been eagerly anticipated ever since.
The Government’s announcement (20 January 2025) clarifies key aspects of the new statutory entitlement, subject to final Parliamentary approval of accompanying regulations. Here’s what we know so far:
- The right to neonatal leave and pay applies to individuals with a parental or significant personal relationship to a child receiving neonatal care.
- Neonatal leave will be available from day one of employment, but statutory pay will require meeting eligibility criteria, including 26 weeks of continuous service with the same employer.
- Eligible employees can access up to 12 weeks of statutory neonatal leave.
Keep an eye out for further updates as more details about the regulations and how they will work in practice become available. If you’re an employer, now is a good time to start preparing for these changes to ensure compliance by April 2025.
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