A new policy allowing parents of babies in neonatal care to take an additional 12 weeks of leave and pay has been welcomed by campaigners, with the change coming into effect on April 6.
The leave will apply to parents whose babies are admitted to neonatal care for seven days or more before reaching 28 days old. The Department for Business and Trade said the measure aims to ease pressure on working families, enabling them to be with their child without using up their existing leave.
Caroline Lee-Davey, CEO of the prematurity charity Bliss, expressed her delight over the new entitlement, having campaigned for it for years. She stated, “This will make a huge difference for parents who want to be by their baby’s side when they are very sick in hospital.” Lee-Davey emphasized that the best outcomes for babies occur when both parents can actively participate in their care.
Catriona Ogilvy, founder of the parent-led charity The Smallest Things, described the new entitlement as a “bittersweet moment.” While she celebrated the policy, she reflected on the many families who missed out in the past, particularly since the legislation was initially introduced two years ago. Ogilvy shared her personal experience with her prematurely born children, highlighting the challenges parents face when they can’t fully recover or bond with their babies during the critical early stages.
Employment rights minister Justin Madders said there has been significant support for the new rights. “There’s been a groundswell of opinion in favor of this for a long time,” he said. Madders also noted that the new policy would allow small employers to be fully reimbursed for the leave costs, ensuring it does not burden businesses.
Jane van Zyl, chief executive of Working Families, said the additional leave and pay would allow parents to be with their babies when it matters most. She also encouraged employers to build on this policy by offering flexible working options and enhanced neonatal care support.
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