As of today, statutory sick pay (SSP) in the UK changed in ways that affect both workers and employers. While organisations will need to make practical adjustments, the reforms also present a chance to:

• improve absence management
• support employee wellbeing
• foster an inclusive workplace culture

The key benefits from 6 April 2026 to statutory sick pay are:

• payment from day one – statutory sick pay is payable from the first day of sickness, removing the 3 ‘waiting days’
• removal of the lower earnings threshold – more workers, including part-time and lower-paid staff, now qualify
• calculation linked to earnings – statutory sick pay is the lower of 80% of average weekly earnings or the statutory weekly rate, making pay fairer for those with lower or variable incomes

These reforms aim to provide more reliable and inclusive support to workers when they are unwell. Given these changes we are currently in the process of reviewing the Staff Handbook and Particulars of Employment, further updates will follow shortly….