Statutory Sick Pay now begins from the first day of illness. The three-day waiting period is gone, and the lower earnings limit is being removed — meaning more of your employees will qualify.

Paternity and parental leave become day-one rights. Previously employees needed 26 weeks' service. From 6 April, someone who joins your team and becomes a parent immediately is entitled to leave.

Any employee raising a concern about sexual harassment will now have full whistleblowing protection. If you don't have a whistleblowing policy, this is the moment to put one in place.

Failing to follow correct collective consultation rules now carries a compensation award of up to 180 days' pay per employee — double the previous amount. The cost of getting this wrong has significantly increased.

October 2026 brings stronger harassment duties. January 2027 reduces the unfair dismissal qualifying period from two years to six months — one of the most significant changes for how employers manage performance and probation.