The Sick Pay Changes Of April 2026

The start of the year was chaotic for a lot of businesses. So much so that you may have missed the changes to statutory sick pay that came in on 6^th April 2026. There have been some big changes that employers need to be aware of. They are changes that our corporate legal specialists can support you and your business with.

One of the biggest sick pay changes from April 2026 is that statutory sick pay is now payable from the first day of absence. This replaces the three-day waiting period that was in place previously.

The eligibility for sick pay has been expanded too. Previously, there were lower limit earnings in place. This means that workers earning £125 or less per week were excluded. This is no longer the case. Instead, part-time, casual and zero-hour contract workers will be eligible for sick pay.

You may also be aware that there was a slight increase to the Statutory Sick Pay rate. It rose to £123.25 per week. Employees that are off work sick will not get the new standard weekly rate or 80% of their average weekly earnings, whichever is lower.

So, what does this mean for you as a business owner and employer?

It means that you need to update your sickness absence policies for the team. You will also need to update staff handbooks as well as template employment contracts that referred to previous waiting days or lower earnings thresholds. Your payroll systems will also need to be updated to ensure that SSP is applied from day one of sickness.

Here at Burgh Thorpe Solicitors, we have a team of corporate solicitors that can help your business stay legal and protected, for you, the business and your employees. We can draft, review and negotiate contracts to ensure that your best interests are protected. This will help to reduce the risk of non-compliance issues and avoidable disputes.

Call our corporate lawyers in Peterborough now to help protect your business.