Manchester-HQ’d hygiene and health brand giant Essity, which is behind household names like Bodyform, Tork, Cushelle and Plenty, is to become one of the first UK employers to go significantly beyond the government’s new statutory entitlement by offering full-pay neonatal care leave to its UK employees from 6th April.
The new policy provides up to 12 weeks’ leave on full base pay for parents whose babies require neonatal hospital care within 28 days of birth – a move designed to support families during some of the most challenging moments of early parenthood.
The announcement holds personal significance for Essity’s UK communications director, Gareth Lucy, whose child spent the entirety of his paternity leave in neonatal care.
“It’s hard to describe the emotional toll of having a newborn in a neonatal unit,” he said. “No one should have to juggle that anxiety with concerns about job security or income. This policy is about doing the right thing – ensuring our people feel fully supported when it matters most.
“As a company rooted in health and hygiene, we believe this is more than a workplace benefit – it’s a reflection of our values and a natural extension of our role in improving lives.”
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Essity’s new policy supports UK employees whose baby needs to spend at least seven days in neonatal care, and applies to those with at least 26 weeks of continuous service by the qualifying date. For every week a baby is in neonatal care, eligible parents can take the same amount of paid leave. Employees with more than two years’ service can receive up to 12 weeks on full pay, while those with under two years’ but more than 26 weeks’ service can receive up to six weeks on full pay.
The structure also reflects the reality of neonatal care journeys. Leave can be taken in flexible weekly blocks while the baby remains in hospital – or as a continuous period within a 68-week window following birth, ensuring it supports both immediate and longer-term care needs.
This goes above and beyond the incoming Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act, under which statutory pay is capped at £187.18 per week or 90% of average earnings. By contrast, Essity is committing to cover employees’ full base pay throughout their neonatal leave – a significant investment that reflects the company’s wider DE&I and employee wellbeing priorities.
With one in seven babies in the UK admitted to neonatal care each year (according to charity Bliss), Essity’s policy has the potential to make a meaningful difference to hundreds of working families across its UK workforce.
“We talk a lot about ‘breaking barriers to well-being’ – and this is a clear example of what that looks like in practice,” said Louisa Oliveira, HR Director at Essity UK. “By removing the financial burden from parents during neonatal care, we’re reinforcing our belief that health and inclusion should start at home – and that support for working families should never be limited to the bare minimum.”
The policy will be available to all 1,650 Essity employees across its UK operations – including its five UK manufacturing sites and Manchester UK HQ.
