Big changes for 15 million Brits
This month, major changes have come in to employment law which will affect some 15 million workers in Britain.
In April, big changes have come into play which will impact anyone who calls in sick, it has been revealed.
Anyone feeling ill when they are set to go to work from April onwards will now be impacted by seven crucial measures within the Employment Rights Act which are now law.
A significant new change will impact anybody who takes a day off ill, as people from the start are entitled to sick pay.
According to officials, the reforms will stamp out insecure work, unfair pay and poor working conditions, putting more money in people’s pockets and improving living standards.
These include giving sick pay to up to 1.3 million of the lowest earners.
What do the changes from April include?
Sick pay
The Employment Rights Act 2025 transformed Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) into a “day one” right from 6 April 2026, removing the three-day waiting period and the lower earnings limit.
SSP will be paid from the first day of sickness and be available to all workers regardless of income.
“The Employment Rights Act will deliver vital common sense reforms for millions of people across the country, including sick pay for all workers from day one, banning exploitative zero hours contracts and protecting workers from harassment”, TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said.
“Too often in this debate the facts are ignored, but stronger rights at work are good for workers and employers – driving up labour market participation, improving health, raising productivity and boosting demand.”
“The Employment Rights Act will deliver an estimated £10 billion boost to the economy – gains that far outstrip any costs. Britain will now be brought into line with other countries where workers already have better protections and, crucially, the legislation will give working people the higher living standards and secure incomes that are needed to build a decent life”, he added.
“Good employers will also welcome these changes: the Act protects them from competitors whose business models are built on low-paid, insecure employment.”
Research indicates that new sick pay rights are set to have the greatest impact on both workers and employers.
According to a study commissioned by conciliation service Acas which examined the Employment Rights Act’s changes, it was revealed that fresh protections against unfair dismissal were also highlighted as significantly influential.
By employers, new paternity leave rights was ranked as their third most important concern, while the new flexible working provisions were prioritised by workers.
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