4 November 2025
New legislation was passed earlier this year to introduce statutory or family leave for parents of newborn babies who need intensive care. Neonatal Care Leave applies to parents of children born on or after 6 April 2025 and enables a parent to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave.
Statutory Neonatal Care Pay is set at the lower of £187.18 a week (2025/26) or 90% of your average weekly earnings. This will be paid to you in the same way as you receive your salary (e.g. whether this is weekly or monthly), taking account of any deductions for tax and National Insurance.
Your contributions to the Fund will be paid on a pro-rata basis depending on your actual earnings, but the Company will top up this amount to equal the same total contribution that was being paid in before you went on family leave. This will be based on your notional salary and will apply throughout the neonatal leave period. You’ll also remain covered for death-in-service life cover while you’re on Neonatal Care Leave.
Roche will top up Statutory Neonatal Care Pay to 75% of normal pay for the period in which it is due.