The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 comes into force on 6 April this year, providing eligible employees with a right to take up to 12 weeks’ leave where their child requires 7 (or more) days of continuous neonatal care starting within the first 28 days following their birth.
The government has now published regulations supporting the introduction of this new right. The main regulations set out the details of eligibility, notification requirements and entitlement. Separately, a different set of new regulations set out the regime for payment during periods of neonatal leave.
Both sets of regulations remain in draft form at the present time and are subject to Parliamentary approval.