Four UK Companies Offering ‘Life Leave’ – A Perk Employees Truly Value

As the UK modernizes its parental leave policies in 2025, a growing number of companies are stepping beyond statutory requirements to offer enhanced ‘life leave’ benefits. These perks, which include extended maternity and paternity leave with full or near-full pay, flexible scheduling, and new neonatal care leave, are increasingly recognized as vital for employee wellbeing and talent retention. Leading UK firms such as NatWest Group, Diageo, Mars, and UNICEF are setting benchmarks by providing generous leave packages that support parents through major life events, reflecting a shift toward more inclusive and family-friendly workplaces.

Enhanced Parental Leave: The New Standard in UK Workplaces

What is ‘Life Leave’?

‘Life leave’ refers to a broader category of employee leave policies that go beyond traditional maternity and paternity leave. It encompasses flexible parental leave options, neonatal care leave, and other family-related time off designed to help employees manage significant life transitions without financial stress or career penalties. In 2025, UK legislation has introduced new rights such as neonatal care leave, granting up to 12 weeks of paid leave for parents of newborns requiring specialized medical care.

UK Parental Leave Updates in 2025

The UK government has updated parental leave policies to increase flexibility and financial support:

• Maternity Leave: Eligible employees can take up to 52 weeks, with statutory maternity pay now at £184.03 per week (or 90% of average weekly earnings if lower) for up to 39 weeks.
• Paternity Leave: Fathers and partners can split their two weeks of statutory paternity leave into two separate one-week blocks within the first year after birth, enhancing adaptability.
• Shared Parental Leave (SPL): Allows parents to share up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of pay, with new digital tools being piloted to simplify applications.
• Neonatal Care Leave: Starting April 6, 2025, parents of babies needing neonatal care are entitled to up to 12 weeks of paid leave, a day-one right benefiting an estimated 60,000 families annually.

These reforms aim to support families more comprehensively and reflect evolving expectations around work-life balance.

Four UK Companies Leading with Generous ‘Life Leave’ Policies

1. NatWest Group PLC

NatWest Group stands out in the UK banking sector by offering 26 weeks of full pay maternity and paternity leave, far exceeding statutory minimums. This generous policy supports parents through critical early months without financial concerns and underscores NatWest’s commitment to employee wellbeing and family support.

2. Diageo PLC

As a multinational leader, Diageo provides 26 weeks of full pay maternity and paternity leave, aligning with best practices in corporate family benefits. Diageo’s policies also embrace flexibility, allowing parents to take leave in ways that best suit their family needs, reflecting the new UK paternity leave reforms.

3. Mars

Mars offers 26 weeks of maternity and paternity leave at 90% pay, slightly less than full pay but still highly competitive. The company complements leave policies with family-friendly workplace initiatives, fostering an inclusive culture that values employee life outside of work.

4. UNICEF UK

UNICEF UK provides 24 weeks of full pay maternity and paternity leave, supporting its workforce with strong family-oriented benefits consistent with its mission-driven ethos. UNICEF also promotes flexible working arrangements and employee support networks to help parents balance career and caregiving.

Why Enhanced ‘Life Leave’ Matters to Employees and Employers

Employee Perspectives

Enhanced parental leave policies are among the most desired workplace perks. Employees increasingly seek flexibility and financial security during major life events such as childbirth and neonatal care. The ability to split paternity leave or access neonatal care leave helps parents better manage their time and reduces stress.

Employment law experts like Sarah King of Maternity Action emphasize that many parents are unaware of their rights to flexible parental leave, which are legally protected. Clear communication from employers and updated HR systems are crucial to ensuring these benefits are accessible.

Employer Benefits

For UK companies, offering enhanced ‘life leave’ is a strategic advantage in attracting and retaining talent. In competitive industries, family-friendly policies demonstrate a commitment to employee wellbeing and equality, boosting morale and productivity.

Industry analysts note that such benefits also foster a positive corporate culture, reduce turnover, and improve gender equality by supporting shared caregiving responsibilities.

Additional Family-Friendly Benefits Complementing ‘Life Leave’

Many leading UK employers combine enhanced parental leave with other supportive measures:

• Flexible Working Arrangements: Options for remote work, flexible hours, and phased returns from leave.
• On-site Childcare and Support Networks: Facilities and groups that help working parents balance responsibilities.
• Unlimited Annual Leave Policies: Emerging in some companies to further empower employees to manage work-life balance.

These initiatives collectively contribute to a more inclusive and supportive workplace environment.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Parental Leave in the UK

The UK’s evolving parental leave landscape, marked by legislative reforms and growing employer generosity, signals a cultural shift toward recognizing diverse family needs. The proposed Employment Rights Bill aims to remove qualifying periods for paternity and ordinary parental leave, potentially granting day-one rights to all employees.

As companies like NatWest, Diageo, Mars, and UNICEF demonstrate, investing in comprehensive ‘life leave’ policies is not only ethically sound but also economically prudent. It aligns with modern workforce expectations and helps build resilient, loyal teams.

In 2025, ‘life leave’ is becoming a defining feature of progressive UK workplaces. Enhanced maternity, paternity, and neonatal care leave policies provide employees with the flexibility and financial security they need during pivotal life moments. Leading companies are setting new standards, showing that supporting families is integral to business success and employee satisfaction.