We may be coming out of cold and flu season, but there are some huge changes in the law around sick pay that you’ll want to be aware of.
From 6 April the major changes to UK Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will come into force, as part of the government’s broader shakeup in employment law. The changes are part of the Employment Rights Act 2025, which was passed as a law at the end of 2025.
One main area of SSP that is being impacted is how it will be paid from the first day of sickness, so there will no longer be a three-day waiting period. This means that even if employees have short absences of one or two days, they will now be entitled to sick pay.
The lower earnings limit (LEL) will also be scrapped, meaning that more workers, including lower earners, are now eligible for sick pay.
No more lower earnings limit
Previously, employees would have to earn £123 a week to qualify to receive sick pay, but now that barrier is being removed.
Another change coming into effect is the way SSP is calculated. Now, sick pay will either be £123.25 per week or 80% of average weekly earnings, whichever is lower. This new calculation sets out to ensure that sick pay will never exceed your actual earnings.
The previous SSP weekly payment was £118.75.
What will be the impact of the new SSP rules?
The move is set to put better financial protections in place for those in part-time or lower-paid roles, as they will now be paid regardless of earnings or the number of days taken off.
The new SSP rules will also encourage people to stay at home when they are ill, resulting in fewer infections being spread in the workplace.
Zero-hour contracts, “fire and rehire” practises, parental leave, and strengthening union rights are also being tackled by the Employment Rights Act.
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