Marks & Spencer introduces neonatal leave policy

Marks & Spencer has become one of the first retailers to introduce a neonatal leave policy.

The move will see the retailer provide up to 12 weeks’ fully paid leave to any UK staff member whose baby requires specialist neonatal care.

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Sarah Findlater, group HR director at M&S, said: “We know that being a parent of a baby who requires neonatal care is an incredibly worrying time and that time may be spent with their baby in hospital, rather than at home.

“We want to do all we can to support colleagues who find themselves in this heart-breaking situation and we hope the introduction of neonatal leave will provide some peace of mind so that their focus can be on their baby without having to worry about pay or using up their maternity, paternity or adoption leave.”

The introduction of neonatal leave is part of the retailer’s focus on providing more support and flexibility to its colleagues. Last year, M&S launched a dedicated fertility treatment policy that gives staff members up to 10 days off to attend appointments for up to three rounds of fertility treatment.

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