‘Essential’ | Asda introduces paid 12-week neonatal care leave policy ahead of 2025 statutory requirement

Asda has announced a new parental leave policy, offering up to twelve weeks of paid leave to staff who have a baby needing seven full days or more of neonatal treatment.

The leave comes on top of the existing maternity, paternity, and adoption paid leave already on offer to its staff.

The supermarket chain announced the new benefit ahead of World Premature Baby Day on 17 November.

Research from the National Education Union found that in 2022, one in seven babies born in the UK after admitted to a neonatal unit shortly after being born.