What that you must know as regulation change will have an effect on anybody taking a time off sick
Need to know
New employment laws will come into affect from April 6. They will see sick pay paid from the first day of illness and will have a big impact on women and lower-paid workers in particular
The rules around sick pay are changing from April 6 workers have been told(Image: Westend61 via Getty Images)
What you need to know ahead of employment law changes next month
- Workers across Britain are set for a major boost from April 6 as new employment laws kick in that will see sick pay paid from day one of illness.
- The Employment Rights Act brings sweeping changes that will particularly benefit lower-paid workers and women, with 4.7 million women set to gain from enhanced sick pay protections. More than 830,000 women will receive statutory sick pay for the first time, including those earning below the current £125-a-week threshold.
- Research by Acas found that 43% of employers believe day-one sick pay will have the biggest impact on their businesses. The changes also include protection against unfair dismissal after six months instead of two years, chosen as the second most important reform by both bosses and workers.
- Future changes include minimum wage rises to £12.71 for over-21s by April 2026, tougher “fire and rehire” rules, and expanded sexual harassment protections. Fathers and partners will also gain immediate paternity leave rights from April.
- The government says the reforms will help prevent workplace infections and provide crucial financial protection for Britain’s lowest-paid workers.
- READ THE FULL STORY: Anyone taking a day off sick from April 6 will see major law change
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