Statutory sick pay – changes for employers from April 2026
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has confirmed that significant reforms to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will come into effect from April 2026. These changes are aimed at strengthening employee rights but may also increase costs for employers. The main updates are: SSP will become payable from the very first day of sickness absence (currently it is only payable from the fourth day). The existing £125 per week earnings threshold for SSP eligibility will be removed. For employees earning under £125 per week, their SSP entitlement will be the lower of: 80% of their usual weekly earnings; and The [...]