The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 provides additional leave to parents whose baby is receiving or has received neonatal care after birth.
Following the birth of a baby, parents may expect to spend a few days in the hospital before being discharged and returning home. However, parents whose baby is admitted into neonatal care may be required to spend an unexpected amount of time in the hospital.
As a result, impacted parents will often spend a period of their family leave and pay while their baby is still in the hospital. By the time their baby is discharged, they will have less leave remaining, meaning they may return to work without having had the same bonding time as other new parents.
Neonatal care leave (NCL) provides dedicated leave, allowing parents to spend more time providing crucial care for their baby, without the added worry of returning to work too soon.
All employees irrespective of service will be entitled to up to 12 weeks’ neonatal care leave where their baby has been admitted into neonatal care within the first 28 days of their birth. This will be in addition to other family leave entitlements, such as maternity, adoption, paternity or shared parental leave.
The neonatal care leave guidance can be found below and outlines how neonatal care leave can be taken.
Neonatal care leave
Guidance for staff
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