Employment Law Changes – April 2026
Alongside the usual annual updates to statutory rates, April 2026 also introduced a number of wider employment law changes.
Statutory rate increases
- National Living Wage (age 21 and over) increased to £12.71 per hour
- 18–20 year old rate increased to £10.85 per hour
- 16–17 year old rate increased to £8.00 per hour
- Apprentice rate increased to £8.00 per hour
- Statutory Sick Pay increased to £123.25 per week, or 80% of average weekly earnings if lower
- Statutory Maternity Pay, Statutory Paternity Pay, Statutory Adoption Pay, Statutory Shared Parental Pay, Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay and Statutory Neonatal Care Pay increased to £194.32 per week, or 90% of average weekly earnings if lower
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
- SSP is payable from the first day of absence
- The Lower Earnings Limit has been removed, increasing eligibility
Family leave
- Employees can give notice to take Paternity Leave from day one of employment
- Employees can give notice to take Unpaid Parental Leave from day one of employment
- Paternity Leave can be taken following Shared Parental Leave
Eligibility for statutory pay remains unchanged.
Bereaved Partner’s Paternity Leave
A new entitlement to Bereaved Partner’s Paternity Leave has been introduced
Collective redundancy
The maximum protective award for failure to collectively consult has increased from 90 days’ pay to 180 days’ pay per employee
Whistleblowing
Protections have been strengthened to clarify that disclosures relating to sexual harassment can qualify as protected disclosures
Holiday pay and record keeping
There is increased focus on holiday pay and record keeping.
- Employers should ensure they keep adequate records to demonstrate compliance with holiday entitlement and holiday pay requirements.
Fair Work Agency
A new Fair Work Agency has been established to bring together enforcement of certain employment rights
Should you have any queries on any of the above changes, please do not hesitate to speak to a member of the team.