UK: Government consultations on neonatal leave, unpaid carers' leave and domestic abuse survivors

The Government has published its response to the consultation on the proposed new right to neonatal leave and pay.  Employees whose babies spend at least 7 continuous days in neonatal care either immediately or within the first 28 days of life will be entitled to one week's leave per full week their child spends in neonatal care, up to a maximum of 12 weeks, and to be paid at the usual family leave flat rate subject to 26 weeks' service and earnings eligibility conditions.  The Government is still considering whether to extend the right to care-givers other than parents and whether to cover babies receiving neonatal care outside hospital and in palliative care.  No date has been given for the introduction of the new entitlements but the government's costings suggest that the changes will not be implemented until 2023.

The Government has opened a consultation until 3 August 2020 on its proposal to give employees who are also unpaid carers one week's unpaid leave per year for the purposes of caring for individuals with physical or mental health problems, disability or issues related to old age where the care need is likely to last for a longer period of time, possibly six to 12 months. No suggested timeframe for introducing the new right has been given.

The Government has also launched a review of employment rights for survivors of domestic abuse, considering the availability of flexible working and unplanned leave for domestic abuse survivors and how employers can tackle economic abuse. The deadline for written submissions is 9 September 2020.