Neonatal Care & Carer's Leave Compliance Check

Why this matters

Two family-related leave rights now apply to almost every UK employer. The Carer’s Leave Act 2023 (in force since 6 April 2024) gives employees a day-one right to one week of unpaid leave in any 12-month period to provide or arrange care for a dependant with a long-term care need. The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 (in force since 6 April 2025) gives parents a day-one right to up to 12 weeks of neonatal care leave when a baby is admitted to neonatal care within 28 days of birth and stays for at least seven continuous days, with statutory neonatal care pay for those who meet the service and earnings tests.

Employees are protected from detriment and automatic unfair dismissal for taking or asking for these leaves, and there is no qualifying period for the protection. Employers who refuse leave, demand evidence the rules do not require, or fail to update policies and payroll risk Employment Tribunal claims, uncapped compensation for automatically unfair dismissal and discrimination claims. Carer’s leave notice can be short and cannot be refused, only postponed in limited circumstances, so managers need to know the rules before the first request arrives.

What you'll need

• Your current family leave policies, including any carer's leave or neonatal care wording
• Details of how managers currently handle short-notice leave requests
• Your payroll provider's process for statutory neonatal care pay
• Any recent requests for leave to care for a dependant or a baby in neonatal care

What you'll get

A personalised compliance report covering: a score out of 100, an executive summary, a list of findings ranked by severity, and a prioritised action plan with timeframes.