The law has changed. Is your business ready?

Employment Law Changes Now in Effect – What Your Business Needs to Do Next

As of 6 April 2026, the latest employment law updates under the Government’s Employment Rights Bill are now live.

These changes will directly affect how you manage sickness, leave and redundancy. Taking the right steps now will help you stay compliant and avoid unnecessary risk.

What has changed?

Here is a clear breakdown of the key updates:

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

• SSP is now payable from day one of sickness, instead of day four
• The Lower Earnings Limit has been removed, so more employees will qualify
• Employees are entitled to 80% of their normal weekly earnings or the statutory flat rate, whichever is lower

Redundancy

• The maximum protective award for failing to consult has increased from 90 days’ pay to 180 days’ pay

Family Leave Rights

• Paternity leave is now a day-one right
• Unpaid parental leave is now a day-one right
• Bereaved partner’s paternity leave has been introduced as a day-one right
  
  Whistleblowing
• Protections have been strengthened, particularly for disclosures relating to workplace sexual harassment

What this means for your business

These are not small adjustments. They will impact your policies, your processes and how your managers handle day-to-day situations.

Now is the time to review:

• HR policies and employee handbooks
• Contracts of employment
• Internal procedures and management practices

Even small gaps can lead to confusion, inconsistent decisions or increased risk.

How to stay compliant

Start by checking that your documentation reflects the new rules. Make sure managers understand the changes and how to apply them in practice.

To make this easier, our updated HR manual is available to download. It gives clear, practical guidance to help you align your business with the new requirements.

If you are unsure where to start, that is completely normal. Applying legislation in a real-world setting can be challenging, especially when you are also running a business.

How we can help

Our HR experts work with businesses like yours every day. We will explain what these changes mean in practical terms and help you put the right measures in place without overcomplicating things.

Contact Stallard Kane for tailored advice.
Speak to our team to find out how we can help your business.
Email HR@skaltd.co.uk or call 01427 420 403 to get started.