Across the country, we’ve seen promising new momentum in securing guaranteed workplace leave for parents with a baby in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). With consideration for the unique needs of NICU families, we have created a detailed best practices guide for state advocates who seek to develop a NICU leave policy that meets parents’ needs during this time.
Last year, A Better Balance worked with state partners to secure a paid NICU leave expansion that added up to 12 additional weeks of paid NICU leave to Colorado’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program, which 1,500 Colorado NICU parents have applied to take since it went into effect in January 2026. Relatedly, Illinois passed an unpaid NICU leave law, ensuring that NICU parents in the state do not lose their jobs while their baby is in the NICU, which went into effect in June 2026.
In the United States, nearly 10% of babies are admitted to the NICU after birth for specialized care. A NICU stay is often an unplanned and unforeseeable situation that can leave families reeling. During such a stressful time, working NICU parents have a unique need for leave that allows them to be present in the NICU with their baby without risking their income or job security. Standalone NICU leave as a separate bucket from standard family and medical leave is a crucial protection for parents in this situation; without additional leave, NICU parents can easily burn through their time off while their baby is still in the NICU and then have little to no time left to bond with their baby once they return home, or to care for any ongoing health needs. In addition to the risk of using up leave before a NICU baby comes home, many NICU parents who do not have access to any paid or unpaid leave are forced to risk their jobs and financial security during this stressful and important time.
States can help alleviate the burden on working NICU parents by implementing NICU leave policies that are practical and accessible for workers facing one of the most stressful periods in their lives. We are excited to see bipartisan interest in this issue, which is a common sense protection for NICU parents and their babies. The recommendations in our new guide include best practices on strong wage replacement, job protection, continuation of health care benefits, documentation, and flexibility in scheduling. We are grateful for our partners at the NICU Parent Network for reviewing these recommendations and working with A Better Balance to extend new leave rights to NICU parents across the United States.
With growing momentum and excitement among states interested in exploring NICU leave after the successes in Colorado and Illinois, A Better Balance is looking forward to helping guide policymakers and stakeholders on ways to ensure a NICU leave bill is accessible, practicable, and successful for NICU families. We will continue to advocate for NICU leave to support parents across the country, so that no one is forced to choose between their job, and being present during this time.