Neonatal care leave is a day one right and eligible employees are entitled to one week of leave for each consecutive 7-day period their baby receives neonatal care (which starts within 28 days, beginning with the day after the child’s birth), up to a maximum of 12 weeks.
Eligible employees can receive Statutory Neonatal Care Pay (SNCP) for up to 12 weeks, which is at the rate of the lower of the current statutory rate or 90% of the employee’s normal weekly earnings.
The neonatal care leave must be taken within 68 weeks of the child's birth and can be taken in addition to another period of statutory family leave, such as maternity or paternity leave.
Employers should update their leave policies to includes details of neonatal care leave and pay, to ensure that employees are aware of their entitlements and the procedure to request a period of leave and SNCP.
Please contact our HR consultancy team for further information and guidance on the Neonatal Care Leave provision, including assistance with drafting a policy in line with this new legislation.