The Work Couch: Neonatal care leave (Part 1): What is the new right, who is eligible, and does the law go far enough? With Joanna Holford and Catriona Ogilvy

Welcome to The Work Couch, the podcast where we discuss all things employment.

In the first part of our series on the new statutory right to neonatal care leave, which comes into force on 6 April 2025, host Ellie Gelder is joined by Joanna Holford, senior associate, from our employment, engagement and equality team, and Catriona Ogilvy, founder and chair of charity The Smallest Things.

Catriona and her team have worked tirelessly to campaign for better support for employees whose babies require neonatal care, while Joanna is frequently advising employer clients on all family-related rights.

We discuss:

• Catriona's own lived experience of having a baby in neonatal care and why the law needed to change;
• Who is eligible for neonatal care leave and how neonatal care is defined by the legislation;
• The timing of neonatal care leave and an explanation of "Tier 1" and "Tier 2" leave;
• Pay during neonatal care leave and eligibility requirements;
• How partners may use neonatal care leave in addition to other forms of family-friendly leave; and
• Whether the new legislation goes far enough in supporting people.

Join us for part 2 next time when we'll discuss the practicalities of implementing neonatal care leave.

For in-depth information and support, please visit The Smallest Things or Working Families, the UK's national charity for working parents and carers.

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All information is correct at the time of recording.  

The Work Couch is not a substitute for legal advice.