As part of M&G plc’s commitment to market-leading, flexible, family-orientated people policies, we will be providing pay and leave for parents whose babies require specialist neonatal care well ahead of the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Bill currently being considered by the UK Government.
Going forward, M&G plc colleagues with babies requiring specialist neonatal care for more than seven days, will be able to take up to 12 weeks paid neonatal leave1 in addition to their existing parental leave, ensuring parents can spend vital time with their baby instead of worrying about returning to work or taking unpaid leave.
Neonatal pay and leave will be added to our Inspiring Families policy later this year making us one of the very first UK employers to introduce this benefit, offering significantly higher paid leave terms than the statutory pay requirement expected to be introduced under the Bill.
Matt Howells, Chief People and Corporate Affairs Officer, said: “One in seven babies born in the UK receive some level of neonatal care shortly after birth: while some of these babies only receive a few days of care, sadly some have to remain in hospital for weeks or months. We hope the additional time we are giving colleagues helps them make up for missing out on time to bond as a family in the early stages of parental leave, and alleviates any financial worries of taking extra time out.”
1One week for every consecutive 7 days of neonatal care