A Change To Look Out For
A Change To Look Out For
Most new years bring about changes in the law and one we will keep an eye on for you is the planned Neonatal Leave and Pay bill.
Neonatal means newborn, or the first 28 days of life.
Over 90,000 babies are born premature or sick and needing neonatal care in the UK each year. That is one in seven babies, or around 250 babies every day.
If passed, the bill will introduce a right to paid leave for eligible employees who, with a child, is receiving, or has received, neonatal care.
Parents will have a right to neonatal care leave of at least one week and up to a maximum of 12 weeks regardless of length of service. Parents with at least 26 weeks’ continuous service will have a right to receive neonatal care pay at a prescribed statutory rate.
At present this rate has not been published and we will inform you when we do.
Employees taking neonatal care leave will have the same employment protection.
The bill passed it’s second reading in parliament in July but there is not, at present, a known timetable for implementation.
We will keep you abreast of the bill’s progress.
The Graham Agency, keeping you informed.