Parents with children in neonatal care are set to benefit from a day-one right to paid leave and pay, marking a significant update hailed as a “lifeline for parents” with sick babies. Effective from Sunday, eligible parents will be entitled to up to 12 weeks of leave and pay, in addition to their maternity and paternity leave. Neonatal care leave will be available for parents of babies admitted to neonatal care up to 28 days old, who have a continuous stay in care for seven days or longer. Notably, one in seven newborns in the UK requires care in a specialist hospital unit.
The Labour government’s employment rights bill, which passed its third reading in the House of Commons last month, introduces several other employment reforms. These include menopause support, an extension of day-one rights to paternity, bereavement, and parental leave for eligible workers, and increased protections against unfair dismissal for pregnant women and new mothers. Under the new legislation, parents in Britain will also be granted a right to bereavement leave after experiencing a miscarriage before 24 weeks’ gestation, with mothers and partners entitled to two weeks of leave in such cases.
The reforms further aim to guarantee sick pay worth up to 80% of their weekly salary from the first day of sickness, benefiting approximately 1.3 million of the lowest-paid workers in the UK. Employment Rights Minister, Justin Madders, acknowledged the efforts of campaigners and parents with experience in caring for very poorly children, emphasizing the importance of providing a support system that allows parents to focus on their newborns without the pressures of work.
Charities such as Bliss and the Smallest Things have welcomed the changes, with Catriona Ogilvy, the founder of the latter, expressing joy over the new leave and pay entitlements available to families from Sunday. She underscored the transformative impact of these changes, which will provide families with the assurance they need to care for their sick children without financial or employment stress.
Gillian Merron, the Minister for Women’s Health, highlighted that the new law will offer parents much-needed peace of mind during an incredibly challenging time, ensuring they can prioritize their families without the burden of immediate work obligations. This move is seen as a crucial step towards supporting families during their most vulnerable times, aligning with broader efforts to improve work-life balance and protect the well-being of new parents.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/apr/05/parents-babies-neonatal-care-gain-right-paid-leave
