New Season, New Rights!
A new season brings new developments in employment law, starting with the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023. In our first edition of The Legal Low Down, we’re exploring what this new legislation means for your business, plus a few updates from our team, including a visit to Peak Pharmacy with the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister!
The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023
Effective from 6 April 2025, this legislation is designed to support families during one of the most critical and emotional times: when a newborn requires hospital care.
This change is expected to support around 60,000 parents a year, allowing eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of neonatal care leave in addition to their existing family leave entitlements.
Why? Because no one should have to balance work admin while their newborn is in hospital.
What counts as Neonatal Care?
Neonatal care isn’t just intensive care.
It includes:
• Medical care received in hospital or under a consultant’s direction
• Hospital-arranged post-discharge
• monitoring
• End-of-life and palliative care
• Outpatient treatment, where the hospital continues to oversee care
How much leave and pay?
• 1 week of leave for every 7 days the baby is in neonatal care (up to 12 weeks)
• Leave must be taken in full weeks and within 68 weeks of the birth
• Employees with 26+ weeks of service and who meet the earnings threshold are entitled to:
• £187.18 per week, or 90% of average weekly earnings (whichever is lower)
Leave may interact with other entitlements, so if you’re unsure, we’re here to help.
Who’s Covered?
The Act applies to:
• Babies born on or after 6 April 2025
• Parents whose babies require neonatal care within the first 28 days of birth
• Babies who remain in hospital for at least 7 continuous days
Note: If the baby is re-admitted, the 7-day period resets.
Who can take Leave?
This is a day-one right for employees with a qualifying parental or close personal relationship with the baby. Typically, this means someone named on the birth certificate or with recognised care responsibilities. Unfortunately, this does not apply to grandparents or a father’s partner.
Business to-do list:
• Create a Neonatal Care Policy
• Update family leave policies
• Train managers on the new law (preferably with snacks!)
• Refresh your staff handbook
With the Employment Rights Bill 2025 on the horizon, staying ahead matters more than ever.
FREE EMPLOYMENT LAW HEALTH CHECK
Why not take advantage of our free Employment Law Health Check? We’ll review your HR documentation, handbooks, contracts, policies, etc., to make sure everything’s up to date and legally sound. Let us take care of the legal details so you can focus on running your business.
CMP News & Events
Join us on 10 June 2025 at 12noon for a live Zoom webinar hosted in collaboration with Sewell Wallis.
We’ll be covering key updates and insights around Employment Law. This event is ideal for HR Professionals, business owners, and anyone managing people.
To register, please email harriet.flowers@cmp.legal to reserve your place.
Prime Minister visit to Peak Pharmacy
Anna Cattee recently joined our client Peak Pharmacy as they welcomed the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister to their Bolsover HQ. With discussions ranging from the new pharmacy contract to global trade impacts, it was a front-row seat to key conversations affecting pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, agriculture, and more. An excellent opportunity to stay engaged with the legal and policy landscape.
