Statutory paternity leave – from 6 April 2026, statutory paternity leave becomes a day-one right. The previous qualifying period of 26 weeks is abolished. It becomes a day-one right where the expected week of childbirth (or expected placement date for adoption) is the week commencing 5 April 2026 (or after), or where the child is born on or after 6 April.
Parental leave – the ERA 2025 removes the one-year qualifying period for taking parental leave, making it a day-one right. Parental leave is the right to unpaid time off work for the purpose of looking after your child, with a period of up to 18 weeks’ leave being available in respect of each child under 18. A maximum of four weeks per year is allowed for each child, with leave to be taken in blocks of a week.
At least 21 days' notice must be given to the employer before taking the leave. Eligible parents have been able to give notice to take the day-one leave since 18 February.
Statutory Sick Pay – From 6 April 2026, the ERA 2025 makes statutory sick pay (SSP) available to all workers from day-one of employment, removing the current three-day waiting period. The requirement for people to earn above the lower earnings limit (LEL, currently £125 a week, rising to £129 on 5 April) before they are eligible, is also abolished. Instead, low earners will be paid SSP at 80% of their normal weekly earnings, or the flat rate of £123.25 a week, whichever is lower.
Action points for employers:
- Review and amend policies for paternity leave and parental leave, to reflect the removal of the qualifying period.
- Make managers aware of the change and make sure requests for paternity leave and parental leave are dealt with accordingly.
- Amend contracts, as appropriate, to refer to SSP as a day-one right.
- Calculate rate of SSP correctly for low earners, review payroll systems.
Equality Action Plans – from April 2026, employers with 250 or more employees may adopt action plans on a voluntary basis, to identify concrete steps which will close the gender pay gap and to support women through the menopause. The recent guidance published by the Government is referred to in our hot topics, with further guidance expected shortly.
Fair Work Agency (FWA) – Regulations have been passed which bring this new enforcement authority into existence on 7 April 2026. While it will have significant new enforcement powers from that date, further regulations are required before these are actually in force.
April 2026 rates and limits
National Minimum Wage (NMW)
From Wednesday 1 April, NMW increases to the following:
- £10.85 for 18-20 year-olds.
- £12.71 for those 21 and over.
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
From Monday 6 April, SSP increases to £123.25.
Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) and other family-related leave
From Sunday 5 April, the weekly rate of statutory maternity, adoption, paternity, shared parental, neonatal care and parental bereavement pay increases to £194.32.
Unfair dismissal awards and a week's pay
From Monday 6 April:
- The maximum compensatory award will increase from £118,223 to £123,543.
- A week's pay (for the purposes of calculating a basic award and a statutory redundancy payment) will increase from £719 to £751.
