Changes to maternity, shared parental, paternity/partner’s leave and adoption leave

New neonatal Leave

To support families during what know can be, extremely difficult times, we will be offering parents additional leave if their baby has to stay in neonatal care due to complications, for a period of seven or more days. This additional leave provides parents with much needed time at home with their baby/babies in these situations where this is most needed. Neonatal leave can be taken at the end of maternity, paternity, shared parental or adoption leave and is up to 12 weeks for mothers/primary adopters and up to six weeks for fathers/partners/secondary adopters, depending on how long the baby spent in hospital.

For full details please refer to the maternity, paternity/partner’s leave and adoption leave policies.

Removal of requirement to pay back occupational maternity and adoption pay on resignation

There will no longer be a requirement for staff to pay back all or some, of their occupational pay, if they leave within three months of returning from maternity or adoption leave. This decision was made in keeping with our EDI principles and to ensure that parents are not penalised financially for resigning. Please email Shelley McPherson if you have any queries about these policy changes.

Matthew Blain
Executive Director of Human Resources