New provisions under the Employment Rights Act came into force on 6 April 2026. These include:

• Employees are now entitled to Statutory Sick Pay from the first day of sickness absence, rather than from the fourth day.

• New fathers and partners now have the right to paternity leave from their first day in a new job, rather than having to wait six months.

• Day one rights to unpaid parental leave have also been introduced. Previously, parents were required to complete one year of service before qualifying.

• Parents are also granted a new right to take Bereaved Partner’s Paternity Leave following the death of a child’s mother or primary adopter.

• The introduction of the Fair Work Agency, which brings together three separate agencies to enforce employment rights more effectively and efficiently.

Employers should ensure that their sickness and employment policies are updated to reflect these changes. Those operating in both Great Britain and Northern Ireland will need to ensure that policies and payroll software correctly account for employee location.

If you require assistance in managing payroll under the new requirements, please do get in touch. We would be happy to assist.

See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/millions-of-workers-get-new-access-to-sick-pay-and-parental-leave