Support for staff who have premature babies

Having a baby born prematurely is one of the most stressful experiences a parent can go through.

With this in mind Brighton & Hove City Council is among the first employers in the UK to agree to provide its staff with extra leave, at full pay, to help them through this difficult time.

The move is in support of a campaign by the Smallest Things charity. The change will apply for the difference in days between a baby’s birth date and its due date.

Deputy council leader Nick Childs said: “Having a premature baby can be an incredibly difficult time for parents.

“Staff who are going through this deserve a compassionate response from us, so I really think this is the right thing to do.

“We want to be known as the best employer in our city, and the best council to work for in the country.

“Let’s not forget as well that this kind of support can be the difference between retaining and losing valued members of staff.”